PROFILE

          Ashok Kumar Aggarwal is an officer belonging to Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax) of 1985 Batch.  By background, he is Mechanical Engineer passed out from Delhi College of Engineering, Delhi in 1983 with distinctions in all subjects. During 1981-82, he was elected as Central Councilor to represent his college in Delhi University. In 1979, he stood 3^rd in India in class 12^th Board exams conducted Central Board of Secondary Examination with highest marks in Chemistry (95/100) and Engineering Drawings (99/100). 

          After completion of his training, he worked in Income Tax Department from 1987 to June 1991 in various posts including Assistant Director of Income Tax (Investigation), Delhi and Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax, Head Quarters with Chief Commissioner of Delhi.

          Ashok Aggarwal was appointed as Private Secretary to Minister of State for Mines (Independent Charge) Mr. Balram Singh Yadav from June 1991 to September, 2005.  During this period, he was instrumental along with his Minister to announce new National Mineral Policy in 1993 which was approved by Parliament.  This was the first initiative for opening up mineral sector of the country for overseas companies in areas of reconnaissance, prospecting and mining. Conferences were held both in India and overseas inviting foreign investments in mineral sectors evoking huge response from overseas investors. The performance of four Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) viz. Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL), Bharat Aluminium Co. Ltd. (BALCO), National Aluminium Co. Limited (NALCO), Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL) were strictly monitored and supervised by Ashok Aggarwal in Minister’s office on monthly basis resulting in phenomenal increase in their productivity and profitability.

          For resolving a serious labourer strike in National Aluminium Company Limited at midnight in January, 1994, which otherwise would have caused loss of hundreds of crores of rupees to national exchequer, the name of Ashok Aggarwal was recommended for national award. 

          From September, 1995 to June, 1996, Ashok Aggarwal worked as Private Secretary to Minister of State for Planning and Program Implementation, Govt. of India. While working in this position, he was instrumental to get computerized through NIC various welfare programs including MPLAD schemes, Mid Day Meals programs, Primary Health Centers etc. For the first time, direct contacts were established with each District Magistrate in the country over net/computer.

          In view of his meritorious achievements, Ashok Aggarwal was selected as Deputy Director of Enforcement (Delhi Zone) in Enforcement Directorate on November 6, 1996.  While working as Deputy Director of Enforcement, Ashok Aggarwal supervised and monitored investigation of a large number of sensitive cases pertaining to highly influential and powerful politicians for violations under FERA e.g. Chandraswamy, Urea scam involving close relatives of former Prime Minister Mr. P.V. Narsimha Rao, former Union Ministers Krishan Kumar, Buta Singh, Sukh Ram, Sita Ram Kesri, the then President of AICC, Bureaucrats like Shri H.K. Khan, former Chief Secretary of Gujrat,  Ashok Jain, Chairman of Times of India, ZEE TV group, Keshav Bangur, Chairman of Rajasthan Bank, hawala dealers like Abhishek Verma against whom a number of overseas enquiries were initiated resulting in filing of 10 chargesheets for FERA violations of more than Rs. 100 crores against him and other hawala operators involved in money laundering activities to support various terrorist outfits including Lashkar-e-tauba etc.

          In one of the most daring operations led by Ashok Aggarwal in August, 1997, a hawala dealer was caught with cash of more than Rs. 1.18 crores in his office at Jama Masjid area of Delhi and large number of incriminating documents showing huge transfer of money through hawala channel to various terrorists outfits were seized. While addressing nation on the eve of Independence Day, the then Prime Minister Shri Inder Kumar Gujral termed the said operation and seizure by Enforcement Directorate a gift to nation.