ED attaches properties of impersonator of Ashok Amritraj

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday said it has attached movable and immovable properties worth Rs.3.8 crore in a case of cheating banks and impersonating veteran tennis player Ashok Amritraj and others.

In a statement here, the ED said the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered four charge sheets against T.S. Anantharaj Stephen, Franklin Samuelraj Toney and D.R. Naik for cheating Canara Bank to the tune of Rs.14.5 crore and Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) Rs.2.55 crore.

The ED took up the investigation as it appeared to be a case of money laundering.

According to the ED, the accused, Anantharaj Stephen, impersonating tennis player Ashok Amritraj, opened an account with Canara Bank and colluding with bank officials, he encashed a fixed deposit worth Rs.7 crore.

In another instance, the accused, colluding with bank officials, diverted Rs.8 crore belonging to Vysarpad Vinayaka Mudaliar Charities to two companies floated by him.

Further impersonating the directors of Gokulam Chit Funds, the accused cheated IOB to the tune of Rs.2.55 crore.

The ED has now attached three immovable properties of the accused, cash amounting to Rs.1.41 crore and gold jewellery worth Rs.22.65 lakh recovered earlier from Stephen.