UP ex-MLA Vinay Shankar Tiwari held in bank fraud case: ED

A Samajwadi Party (SP) leader, Tiwari is the son of the late Hari Shankar Tiwari, a gangster-politician from Gorakhpur.

On Monday, the ED had carried out searches at Tiwari’s premises and others.

The agency launched its investigation following an FIR filed by the CBI in October 2020 on charges of fraud and other related offences, in which Tiwari was named among the accused.

Tiwari, who was a promoter of M/s Gangotri Enterprises Ltd — a company engaged in road construction and toll plaza operations — is alleged to have had a role in causing a loss of Rs 754 crore to seven banks.

The ED added that its investigation revealed Tiwari’s involvement in offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

According to the agency, despite issuing multiple summons to Tiwari seeking data and clarification related to Gangotri Enterprises Ltd (GEL), he “consistently responded that all relevant documents had already been submitted.”

However, the agency pointed out that further information was required from Tiwari. His repeated absence made it impossible to obtain the necessary details, prompting his arrest.

Vinay Shankar Tiwari is a one-time MLA, having won the Chillupar Assembly seat in Gorakhpur on BSP ticket in the 2017 Assembly elections. He later contested the 2022 elections as a Samajwadi Party candidate, but lost.

Chillupar holds significant political legacy for the Tiwari family, as Vinay’s late father, Hari Shankar Tiwari, had represented the seat for six consecutive terms – from 1985 to 2007.

Over the years, Hari Shankar also served as a minister, including at the Cabinet level, in governments led by the SP, Bahujan Samaj Party and the BJP.