Meerut, Oct. 16 -- : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday launched a massive crackdown on a multi-crore money laundering network linked to absconding forex trading mastermind Lavish Chaudhary, tightening the noose around his associates in western Uttar Pradesh.

The operation began at 6 a.m. in Nara village, under the Mansurpur police station limits of Muzaffarnagar district, where ED officials-assisted by paramilitary forces-conducted simultaneous raids at the residences of three of Chaudhary's close aides. The searches continued for hours during which officials seized Rs.94 lakh in cash, crucial bank records, documents, and digital devices believed to hold evidence of money laundering and fraud.

According to officials, Chaudha...