New Delhi: Probing money laundering charges in the Aircel-Maxis case, the Enforcement Directorate will soon attach properties worth over Rs 7.42 billion belonging to former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran, his family members and associates.
“The attachment of properties related to proceeds of crime allegedly received by Maran brothers and associates will be done shortly under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act,“ a source said. The attachment will equal the amount allegedly received as bribe by the Maran brothers as claimed by the CBI in its chargesheet, the source added.
In its chargesheet, the CBI has accused the Maran brothers of having received Rs 7.42 billion as quid pro quo after the then telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran “coerced entrepreneur C Sivasankaran to sell his telecom company Aircel to Malaysia-based Maxis“. The ED had earlier issued showcause notices for Rs 17.67billion in the case.
CBI nailed the Marans on the basis of financial transactions of Maxis Communications. A UK-based subsidiary of Maxis had purchased shares at premium in Sun Direct Pvt Ltd, owned by the Marans, worth Rs 6.29 billon.
“Any additional attachment of properties will depend on information the ED receives from Malaysia and Mauritius,” sources said.
The ED is likely to send fresh letters rogatory (LRs) to Mauritius and Malaysia seeking information on entities related to Aircel and Maxis.