Madras High Court dismisses Marans' plea against attachment of property

Chennai: In a setback to Maran brothers, the Madras High Court on Wednesday dismissed petitions filed by Kalanithi Maran owned Sun TV and Kal Communications challenging the attachment of their properties by Enforcement Directorate in connection with money laundering probe in Aircel-Maxis deal.

Dismissing the petitions, Justice M Sathyanarayanan said that he was not inclined to entertain the plea and directed that Sun TV and Kal Communications approach the Supreme Court, which is monitoring the Aircel-Maxis case.

The petitions challenged the March 31 provisional attachment order of ED attaching assets worth Rs 742.58 crore in the name of former Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran, his businessman brother Kalanithi and other family members under provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The High Court had on June 2 reserved its orders on the petitions.

The properties of Sun TV and Kal Communications in several localities here, Tiruchirappalli and Bengaluru have been attached by ED in the case filed by CBI on September 20, 2011.

This was for alleged illegal gratification amounting to Rs.742.58 crore received by Dayanidhi Maran under the guise of investments in Sun Direct Television Private Limited (SDTPL) and South Asia FM Limited (SAFL) companies.

It was alleged by CBI that the illegal gratification was received during December 2007 to 2011.

CBI has further alleged that proceeds of the crime were infused in the aforesaid companies and transformed into various types of properties.