India, Jan. 2 -- The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached assets worth Rs 33.66 crore belonging to two private companies based in Manipur, their sole director and associates in connection with an alleged investment fraud that cheated nearly 5,000 investors, officials said.

The Imphal sub-zonal office of the ED issued the second Provisional Attachment Order (PAO) against M/s Birla Emporium Pvt Ltd, M/s Ira Finance Pvt Ltd, their director Yumnam Irabanta Singh and others under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The ED launched its probe based on FIRs registered by the CID (Crime Branch), Manipur, under various sections of the Indian Penal Code against Singh, who allegedly operated a fraudulent deposit and in...