The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has issued an order under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for the attachment of assets worth Rs. 742 crore held by former Union Minister and DMK leader Dayanidhi Maran, his brother and media baron Kalanidhi Maran and his wife Kaveri Kalanidhi.
A press release by the ED says that the attachment of the assets is in respect of money laundering relating to the illegal gratification amounting to Rs. 742.58 crores received by Dayanidhi Maran.
The Marans have been accused of entering into a quid-pro-deal with a Malaysia-based entrepreneur, T Ananda Krishnan who owns Maxis. Dayanidhi Maran, the then Telecom Minister has been accused of forcing C Sivasankaran, the founder of Aircel to sell his stake to Anantha Krishnan.
The investigation, according to the ED, has revealed that illegal gratification of Rs. 742.58 crores was paid by the companies based in Mauritius for Dayanidhi Maran, in the two companies namely M/s Sun Direct TV Pvt. Ltd (SDTPL) and M/s South Asia FM Ltd (SAFL). These two companies are owned and controlled by Kalanithi Maran. The money has been utilized by the companies in their business or investments.
Following Properties are attached under Section 5(1) of PMLA –
1. Fixed deposits held by Mr. Dayanidhi Maran and others - Rs. 7.47 Crores.
2. Fixed deposits held by SDTPL - Rs. 31.34 Crores.
3. Fixed deposits held by SAFL - Rs. 6.19 Crores
4. Mutual Funds held by SAFL - Rs.15.14 Crores.
5. Fixed Deposit held by Mr. Kalanithi Maran - Rs 100 Crores.
6. Mutual Funds held by Ms. Kalanithi Maran - Rs. 2.78 Crores.
7. Fixed Deposit held by Ms. Kaveri Kalanithi - Rs 1.30 Crores.
8. Mutual Funds held by Ms. Kaveri Kalanithi - Rs. 1.78 Crores.
9. Land and Building owned by M/s Kal Comm Private Limited - Rs. 171.55 Crores.
10. Free Hold Land and Building owned by M/s Sun Network TV Pvt. Ltd - Rs. 266 Crores.
11. Shares of SDTPL held by Sh. Kalanithi Maran – Rs. 139 Crores.
ED says that the investigation under PMLA has revealed that the promoters of the SDTPL are Kalanithi Maran and Kaveri Kalanithi. These two hold 80% shares of SDTPL. The shareholders of SAFL are M/s Sun TV Network Limited (60%) and 20% each are M/s A.H. Multisoft Pvt Ltd. and M/s South Asia Multimedia Technologies Ltd., Mauritius. Kalanithi Maran is also holding 75% share of M/s Sun TV Network Limited. Kalanithi Maran and Kaveri Kalanithi are having 90% and 10% shareholding respectively in a company M/s Kal Comm Pvt. Ltd.
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