ED attaches Rs 150 crore assets of Chennai criminal

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The Enforcement Directorate today attached assets worth Rs 150 crore of a Chennai-based criminal, wanted in several cases of extortion and murder, in connection with a money laundering probe against him.
The agency said it has attached the assets of Sridhar Dhanpal and his family members under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Dhanpal and his associates had as many as 26 police FIRs registered against them even as the CBI had issued an Interpol arrest warrant and it is suspected he is currently in Dubai, ED said.
"Dhanpal has been evading the judicial proceedings in India for past three years and it is learnt that he flew from India in 2013 and is now in Dubai.

"Based on the information from Tamil Nadu Police, the Enforcement Directorate initiated money laundering investigations in this regard and found that the said person had committed the offence of money laundering and using the proceeds of crime, had acquired 124 immovable properties in his name and name of his wife, daughter and brother," the agency said in a statement.
It said Dhanpal also had cases of extortion, murder and attempt to murder, illegal possession of arms registered against him.
An attachment order under PMLA is aimed to deprive the accused from taking benefits of his or her ill-gotten wealth and it can be challenged before the Adjudicating Authority of the said Act within 180 days.