The Directorate of Enforcement Conducting a search in 44 places throughout the country in the investigation of money laundering on the Vivo Chinese smartphone manufacturing company and related companies, officials said.

The search was carried out under the part of the prevention of money laundering (PMLA). The agency is conducting a search in 44 places related to Vivo and related companies, they said.

Meanwhile, on April 30 ED officials seized ₹ 5,551.27 Crore from Xiaomi India in connection with the illegal outbalance of money made by the company. Confiscation is made from a company bank account based on the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Law (FEMA).

Investigation of alleged illegal money transfers began in February this year. ED claimed, “The company has sent foreign currencies equivalent to ₹ 5551.27 Crore to three foreign -based entities that include one Xiaomi group entity with Royalty.”