LUCKNOW, July 10 -- The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on Thursday claimed to have unearthed evidence pointing to an alleged network of shell companies, suspected benami properties and layered financial transactions during searches against former Garautha MLA Deep Narayan Singh Yadav, widening its money laundering investigation linked to a disproportionate assets case. Searches conducted by the ED's Allahabad Sub-Zonal Office at 11 locations in Jhansi, Lucknow and other parts of Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday led to the seizure of incriminating documents relating to inter-company transactions, third-party agreements, suspicious financial dealings and luxury assets allegedly held in the names of business entities, family members and close associates, the agency said in a press statement issued on Thursday. The ED claimed to have found that certain companies existed only on paper and carried out no genuine business activities, strengthening its suspicion that shell entities were used to layer and integrate the proceeds of crime into the legitimate financial system. Documents relating to suspected benami immovable properties and records indicating the alleged layering of illicit funds were also recovered and seized, the agency said. According to the ED, the money laundering investigation stems from an FIR registered by the Uttar Pradesh Vigilance Establishment alleging that the former legislator amassed disproportionate assets worth about Rs.23.02 crore beyond his known sources of income during the check period. The agency claimed that Deep Narayan Singh Yadav generated substantial proceeds of crime through criminal activities and by abusing his political influence before routing the money through a network of companies, including shell entities, and investing it in businesses and properties allegedly controlled by him, his family members and associates. Several movable and immovable assets were allegedly purchased in the names of associates and distant relatives to project them as untainted assets, according to the ED. The latest findings build on Wednesday's searches, when ED teams simultaneously raided two residential flats linked to the former MLA's family in Lucknow, his ancestral residence in Jhansi, his brother-in-law's house and other premises. Investigators examined banking records, property documents, digital devices and financial transactions while questioning occupants and scrutinising suspected proceeds of crime. The ED said the investigation had also revealed that more than 60 criminal cases had been registered against the former MLA at police stations in Jhansi and other districts of Uttar Pradesh. The FIRs include allegations of dacoity, attempt to murder, extortion, attempt to commit culpable homicide, criminal breach of trust, cheating and forgery, many of which are scheduled offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)....