Madras High Court reserves order on Marans’ Enforcement Directorate plea

Chennai: The Madras HC reserved orders on the petitions filed by Sun TV Network Ltd and Kal Comm Pvt Ltd, which sought to quash an order of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), attaching its properties in connection with the money laundering probe in the Aircel-Maxis deal. Justice M. Sathyanarayanan reserved orders after hearing elaborate arguments from senior counsel P.S. Raman for the petitioners and additional solicitor general G. Rajagopal for the ED.

Raman argued that the residential properties of the Maran brothers were attached. “Valuation was done at the whims and fancies of the ED to arrive at a value of Rs 742 crore. As per the draconian law (Prevention of Money Laundering Act), as soon as the final attachment is made, they can dispossess us. Let them (ED) go ahead with the proceedings, but let them not forcibly dispossess us. They are seeking to attach any property which can be distantly connected to the Maran family.

“How can they attach three houses purchased years before the Act came into force? The adjudication is slated to be held on July 10 and the Supreme Court is on vacation and, hence, the petitioners cannot approach the apex court. We have already surrendered the property. We gave an unconditional undertaking that we will not alienate the property till the criminal case is over. Therefore, let them not dispossess us,” he added.

Rajagopal argued that any orders will impede the investigation. No cause of action arises now because their possession is not disturbed. They can approach the adjudicating authority and explain their sources of income. Thereafter, they can move the appellate authority, as also the HC, he added. In 2011, the CBI had filed an FIR against the Maran brothers, and the ED passed the present order attaching the properties in 2015.