ED files charges against GVK group, promoters for Mumbai airport 'scam'

Action follows criminal case by CBI on July 27 against GVK Group Chairman Sanjay Reddy and MIAL Managing Director GV Sanjay Reddy

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday pressed money-laundering charges against the promoters of the GVK group of companies, officials of Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL), and a few other entities in connection with the alleged Rs 705-crore Mumbai airport scam.

Confirming the development, an ED official said the enforcement case information report (ECIR), which is equivalent to a police first information report, was filed under Section 3 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Section 3 deals with concealing proceeds of a crime where the accused shall be guilty of money laundering. 

The ED action follows the criminal case registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on June 27 against GVK group Chairman G V K Reddy and MIAL Managing Director G V Sanjay Reddy. The ECIR also includes the names of some Airports Authority of India (AAI) officials and nine other private firms.

The case is related to allegations of irregularities amounting to Rs 705 crore in developing Mumbai Airport. The investigative agency alleged that the money was siphoned off by the accused, causing a loss to the exchequer between 2012 and 2018.

Sources in the ED indicated that the people connected with the case would be summoned and quizzed in the coming weeks.