New Delhi, Oct. 3 -- An appellate tribunal that deals with money laundering cases has upheld the Enforcement Directorate's action in the Rs.1,000 crore Srijan case in Bihar while rejecting over a dozen appeals filed by the family members, relatives, and associates of the late Manorama Devi-the mastermind behind the fraud and the founder of NGO Srijan Mahila Vikas Sahyog Samiti Limited (SMVSSL)-against attachment of their properties.

The tribunal ruled that the NGO "had become a tool for embezzlement and misappropriation of government funds in collusion with government officials, bank officers and other individuals".

The NGO, which worked on imparting training to women in Bihar, allegedly embezzled state funds from the treasuries of Bhag...