Aircel-Maxis deal: Probing the complex money trail, says ED

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED), which has chargesheeted former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran in the Aircel-Maxis deal, today told a special court that it was probing a complex money trail involving a Mauritius-based firm and two private firms.

The probe agency said it was ascertaining the route of Rs 742.58 crore allegedly laundered for which Letter Rogatories has been issued to concerned authorities in United Kingdom, Mauritius, Singapore and Malaysia.

Among the companies under probe are M/s South Asia FM Ltd (SAFL), which is one of the accused in the Aircel Maxis deal and whose shares were purchased by NDTV for Rs 5.10 crores.

They were later sold by NDTV to AH Multisoft, which in turn was funded by a Mauritius-based company, whose name was not disclosed by the ED before Special Judge O P Saini.

"We are trying to ascertain what is the nexus between these companies with regard to proceeds of crime," ED's prosecutor N K Matta said.

The prosecutor further said that ED is still carrying out the investigation both in India and abroad and is relying on the statements of various bank accounts to show how the proceeds of crime moved from one company to another.

"Investigations are still being carried out both in India and abroad and ED is trying to ascertain various transactions relying on bank statements of different bank accounts to show the proceeds of crime moved from one company to other.

"The bank statement shows that proceeds of crime were not only received but even utilized so as to project that the amount was not tainted," the prosecutor further said.

The court then asked the prosecutor, whether the bank statements filed by ED are certified or not.

He replied in the affirmative and said that the two accused companies M/s Sun Direct TV Pvt Ltd (SDTPL) and SAFL got Rs 549.03 crores and Rs 193.55 crores respectively from the proceeds of crime.

The judge then posted the matter for further arguments after ED submitted more documents regarding the case.

"Part arguments on the point of cognizance of charge sheet heard. Some documents filed by Enforcement Directorate. Court needs to go through the documents, as the records concerning the case are voluminous. Put up for further arguments on February 1," the court said.

Enforcement Directorate (ED) had filed the charge sheet on January 8 after which special CBI judge O P Saini had fixed the matter for today for consideration.

Besides Dayanidhi Maran, ED had named his brother Kalanithi Maran, his wife Kavery Kalanithi, K Shanmugam, Managing Director of SAFL, and two firms --SDTPL and SAFL -- as accused in the case filed under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).