2G: ED attaches Maran properties
The Enforcement Directorate ( ED) on Wednesday attached properties worth ` 742.58 crore allegedly belonging to former communications minister Dayanidhi Maran, his businessman brother Kalanithi and other family members in connection with its money laundering probe into the controversial AircelMaxis deal case. The Aircel- Maxis deal had taken place during Dayanidhi Maran’s tenure in the Sanchar Bhawan.
Sources said the agency issued the attachment order under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act ( PMLA).
Amongst the assets attached are a huge amount of fixed deposits ( FDs) and mutual funds held largely by his brother and Sun TV MD Kalanithi. Some assets of Mr Kalanithi’s wife have also been attached.
“The individual assets include FDs held by Mr Dayanidhi and others worth ` 7.47 crore, FD worth ` 100 crore and mutual funds worth ` 2.78 crore held by Kalanithi. His wife’s FDs worth ` 1.30 crore and mutual funds of ` 1.78 crore were also put under attachment”, sources said.
An official order said “that illegal gratification of ` 742.58 crore was paid by the companies based in Mauritius for Dayanidhi in the two companies namely Ms Sun Direct TV Pvt Ltd ( SDTPL) and Ms South Asia FM Ltd ( SAFL).
These two companies are owned and controlled by Mr Kalanithi. The money has been utilised by the companies in their business or investments. The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought the response of the CBI special public prosecutor, Anand Grover, in the 2G spectrum allocation case on the allegations made by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy that certain CBI officers probing the 2G spectrum allocation scam had been transferred even as his plea for a CBI probe into the role of former finance minister P. Chidambaram was still under consideration.
A bench of Chief Justice H. L. Dattu and Justice Arun Mishra sought the response in two weeks.
Mr Grover said only one officer was relieved after completion of his tenure in the CBI. He said he would explain the position and file an affidavit. The bench also asked the CBI to file a status report in the 2G investigation on the next date of hearing on April 20.
In his application, Dr Swamy said there was an attempt to remove/ transfer certain investigating officers associated with the 2G case from the inception of the investigation
He cited the instance of joint director, CBI, Mr Ashok Tewari, who was transferred in January and Mr R. K. Dutta, to whom he was reporting had been empanelled as special director in the Government of India and as such, was likely to be shifted.