New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate on Friday filed a complaint against former communications minister A. Raja, DMK MP Kanimozhi and 17 others in a special court over a money-laundering case linked to the 2G spectrum scam.
The ED also named DMK chief M. Karunanidhi’s 84-year-old wife Dayalu Ammal and Swan Telecom (now Etisalat DB) promoters Shahid Usman Balwa and Vinod Goenka as accused in the case, in which it alleged Rs 200 crore was paid by Balwa and Goenka to DMK-run Kalaignar TV.
The complaint, before special judge O.P. Saini, named 10 individuals and nine companies as accused. Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables directors Asif Balwa and Rajiv Aggarwal, Bollywood producer Karim Morani and Kalaignar TV managing director Sharad Kumar were also named. The judge fixed April 30 for taking cognisance of the complaint.
Mr Raja, Ms Kanimozhi, Shahid Balwa, Mr Goenka, Asif Balwa, Mr Aggarwal, Mr Morani and Sharad Kumar are already facing trial in the 2G scam in which the CBI had filed chargesheets. The ED complaint, filed by special public prosecutor Naveen Kumar Matta, said the agency has investigated the “flow of funds” and found money was laundered by the accused.
The ED claimed it found evidence regarding the channelling of Rs 200 crore to Kalaignar TV through a circuitous route. Dayalu Ammal holds 60 per cent stake in Kalaignar TV while Ms Kanimozhi and Sharad Kumar each hold 20 per cent stake. The ED has also scrutinised documents on both DMK MPs’ incomes, properties and personal investments. It also started attachment proceedings on other individuals and some telecom firms involved.
The complaint said the individuals and companies were charged with money laundering as defined under Section 3 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002. The offence of money laundering is punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term not be less than three years, but which may extend to seven years, and also liable for fine.
