New Delhi
[dropcap color=”#008040″ boxed=”yes” boxed_radius=”8px” class=”” id=””]T[/dropcap]he Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday chargesheeted former Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran, his family members, and Sun TV group companies in the Aircel Maxis scam. The ED filed the chargesheet in the court of Special 2G scam Judge OP Saini detailing Maran’s role in the case and the violation of Foreign Exchange Promotion Board (FIPB) norms by the then Finance Minister P Chidamabram in 2006 to the controversial deal.
There were some alleged dubious transactions into the account of companies controlled by Chidambaram’s son Karti before the finance minsitery cleared the deal. It has been alleged that Karti got the “cut” in lieu of Chidambaram favoring the deal. The chargesheet also details the money trail of Malaysian company Maxis and its owners T Ananda Krishnan and Ralph Marhsal.
In addition to Maran, the ED has also chargesheeted his brother Kalanidhi Maran, his wife Kaveri Kalanidhi, and Sun TV Managing Director Shanmugham under Prevention of Money Laundering (PMLA) Act.
The ED has also chargesheeted two Sun TV group companies Sun, Sun Direct and South Asia FM for routing the kickbacks from Malaysian company Maxis. The charges entail a sentence ranging between three to seven years under PMLA Act.
[dropcap color=”#008040″ boxed=”yes” boxed_radius=”8px” class=”” id=””]T[/dropcap]he chargesheet filed by ED refers to the CBI findings about the violation done by former Chidambaram in giving FIPB clearance to the Aircel-Maxis deal. According to ED chargesheet, Chidambaram did not take the mandatory approval of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) before giving FIPB clearance to the deal. The CCEA clearance was necessary since FIPB could only approve foreign investments worth Rs.600 crores($90 million).
The chargesheet also gives status of money trail involving Karti’s owned Advantage Strategic Consulting Private Limited and Aircel. The 2G Court has already issued Letter Rogatory (LR) to Karti’s Singapore company. It also mentioned the money trail and huge increase of the value of shares in Vasan Eye Care in which Advantage Strategic has controlling shares.
“During the course of investigation under PMLA in respect of the payment of Rs. 26,00,444/- ($40,000) by the company Aircel Televenture Ltd. (ATVL) to Advantage in March, 2006, it is revealed that there is no document other than payment voucher of ATVL and copy of invoice raised by the company Advantage. The genuineness and bonafide of the payment is not supported by any Board Resolution passed by ATVL and no agreement and terms and conditions in respect of this transaction are available with ASCPL,” the chargesheet said.
The ED said probe into the role of Chidambaram, Karti and Maxis owners are in progress on and the agency would soon file Supplementary chargesheet in the case.
Note:
1. The conversion rate used in this article is 1 USD = 66.68 Rupees.
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