Maran brothers, others chargesheeted in Aircel-Maxis PMLA case

Former Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran, his brother Kalanithi Maran and four others were today chargesheeted by Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a special court in the Aircel-Maxis deal-related money laundering case.
ED named Dayanidhi, Kalanithi, his wife Kavery Kalanithi, K Shanmugam, Managing Director of M/s South Asia FM Ltd (SAFL), and two companies -- M/s Sun Direct TV Pvt Ltd (SDTPL) and SAFL -- as accused in the case filed under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
It alleged that proceeds of crime worth Rs 742.58 crore was paid by the Mauritius-based companies for Dayanidhi in the two firms, SDTPL and SAFL.

"The investigation under PMLA was taken up and it revealed that proceeds of crime of Rs 742.58 crore was paid by the companies based in Mauritius for Dayanidhi Maran, in the two companies namely SDTPL and SAFL," it said in a press note.
The ED alleged that the two firms were owned and controlled by Kalanithi and the money had been utilised by the companies in their business.
The charge sheet was filed before Special CBI Judge O P Saini who fixed it for consideration on January 18.

ED said it had attached assets held by Dayanidhi, Kalanithi, Kavery and others equivalent to amount of proceeds of crime of Rs 742.58 crore under the PMLA.

It also claimed that Dayanidhi had obtained Rs 742.58 crore through companies of his relatives by "camouflaging the proceeds of crime as capital contribution in SDTPL and SAFL" and committed the offence of money laundering in receiving the amount in the companies owned and controlled by his brother Kalanithi and sister-in-law Kavery.
Detailing the roles of the accused, the agency said their probe has revealed that promoters of SDTPL are Kalanithi and Kavery who were holding 80 per cent shares of the firm.
"SDTPL is owned and controlled by Kalanithi Maran and Kavery Kalanithi being shareholders and in the Board of Directors as Chairman and Director respectively," it said.

It said SDTPL had received "proceeds of crime amounting to Rs 549.03 crore for Dayanidhi Maran in the guise of foreign investment", which has been consumed by the company in its business.