ED charge-sheets Marans in Aircel-Maxis case
The charge sheet alleged that the proceeds of crime to the tune of Rs 742.58 crore were paid by Mauritius-based companies for Dayanidhi in SDTPL and SAFL.
- Jan 9, 2016,
- Updated Jan 24, 2017 1:37 PM IST
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a charge sheet against former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran, his brother Kalanithi and the latter's wife Kavery in the money laundering case related to the Aircel-Maxis deal in a special court on Friday.
K. Shanmugam, managing director of M/s South Asia FM Limited (SAFL), and two companies-M/s Sun Direct TV Private Limited (SDTPL) and SAFL-were also named as accused in the case, filed under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The charge sheet alleged that the proceeds of crime to the tune of Rs 742.58 crore were paid by Mauritius-based companies for Dayanidhi in SDTPL and SAFL, according to a press note.
The ED further alleged that the two firms were owned and controlled by Kalanithi and the money was utilised by the companies in their business. The charge sheet was filed before Special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Judge O.P. Saini, who fixed next date for hearing on January 18. The ED stated that it had attached assets held by Dayanidhi, Kalanithi, Kavery and others equivalent to amount of proceeds of crime of Rs 742.58 crore under PMLA. The agency also claimed that Dayanidhi had obtained Rs 742.58 crore through companies of his relatives by camouflaging the proceeds of the crime as capital contribution in SDTPL and SAFL and committed the offence of money laundering in receiving the amount in the companies owned and controlled by Kalanithi and Kavery.
The ED added that the investigation had revealed that promoters of SDTPL are Kalanithi and Kavery, who were holding 80 per cent shares. "SDTPL is owned and controlled by Kalanithi Maran and Kavery Kalanithi being shareholders and in the Board of directors as chairman and director respectively," it said. The agency said that SDTPL had received proceeds of the crime amounting to Rs 549.03 crore for Dayanidhi in the guise of foreign investment, which has been consumed by the company in its business. The ED said that shareholders of SAFL were Kalanithi-controlled M/s Sun TV Network Limited, which holds 60-per cent stake, and two Mauritius-based companies.
In August 2014, the CBI too had chargesheeted the Maran brothers, Malaysian business tycoon T. Ananda Krishnan, Malaysian national Augustus Ralph Marshall and four companies-Sun Direct TV Pvt Ltd, Maxis Communication Berhad, South Asia Entertainment Holding and Astro All Asia Network PLC in the case. The CBI had earlier alleged in court that Dayanidhi had pressured and forced Chennai-based telecom promoter C. Sivasankaran to sell his stakes in Aircel and two subsidiary firms to Malaysian firm Maxis Group in 2006.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a charge sheet against former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran, his brother Kalanithi and the latter's wife Kavery in the money laundering case related to the Aircel-Maxis deal in a special court on Friday.
K. Shanmugam, managing director of M/s South Asia FM Limited (SAFL), and two companies-M/s Sun Direct TV Private Limited (SDTPL) and SAFL-were also named as accused in the case, filed under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The charge sheet alleged that the proceeds of crime to the tune of Rs 742.58 crore were paid by Mauritius-based companies for Dayanidhi in SDTPL and SAFL, according to a press note.
The ED further alleged that the two firms were owned and controlled by Kalanithi and the money was utilised by the companies in their business. The charge sheet was filed before Special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Judge O.P. Saini, who fixed next date for hearing on January 18. The ED stated that it had attached assets held by Dayanidhi, Kalanithi, Kavery and others equivalent to amount of proceeds of crime of Rs 742.58 crore under PMLA. The agency also claimed that Dayanidhi had obtained Rs 742.58 crore through companies of his relatives by camouflaging the proceeds of the crime as capital contribution in SDTPL and SAFL and committed the offence of money laundering in receiving the amount in the companies owned and controlled by Kalanithi and Kavery.
The ED added that the investigation had revealed that promoters of SDTPL are Kalanithi and Kavery, who were holding 80 per cent shares. "SDTPL is owned and controlled by Kalanithi Maran and Kavery Kalanithi being shareholders and in the Board of directors as chairman and director respectively," it said. The agency said that SDTPL had received proceeds of the crime amounting to Rs 549.03 crore for Dayanidhi in the guise of foreign investment, which has been consumed by the company in its business. The ED said that shareholders of SAFL were Kalanithi-controlled M/s Sun TV Network Limited, which holds 60-per cent stake, and two Mauritius-based companies.
In August 2014, the CBI too had chargesheeted the Maran brothers, Malaysian business tycoon T. Ananda Krishnan, Malaysian national Augustus Ralph Marshall and four companies-Sun Direct TV Pvt Ltd, Maxis Communication Berhad, South Asia Entertainment Holding and Astro All Asia Network PLC in the case. The CBI had earlier alleged in court that Dayanidhi had pressured and forced Chennai-based telecom promoter C. Sivasankaran to sell his stakes in Aircel and two subsidiary firms to Malaysian firm Maxis Group in 2006.