New Delhi, Jan 15: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached assets worth Rs 48.21 lakh belonging to journalist Rajeev Sharma under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 in connection with a money-laundering investigation, the agency said on Saturday.

He is accused of supplying confidential and sensitive information to Chinese Intelligence Officers in exchange for remuneration thereby compromising the security and national interests of the country.

The attached asset is the residential property in the name of Sharma at Pitampura, New Delhi.

ED initiated the money-laundering investigation on the basis of the FIR and charge sheet filed by Delhi Police against Sharma under the provisions of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and the Official Secrets Act, 1923,

During the investigation, the ED said, it was revealed that such remuneration to Sharma was being provided by a Mahipalpur-based shell company that was run by Chinese nationals namely Zhang Cheng alias Suraj, Zhang Lixia alias Usha and Qing Shi along with a Nepali national Sher Singh alias Raj Bohara.

This Chinese company was acting as a conduit for the Chinese Intelligence agencies to provide remuneration for persons like Rajeev Sharma indulged in criminal activities. The remuneration was being paid in cash through carriers as well as through cash deposits,” said the ED.