Chennai: The Madras high court on today (10th June) dismissed petitions filed by Sun TV and Kal Communications challenging the attachment of their properties by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with money laundering probe in Aircel-Maxis deal.
Dismissing the petitions against attachment of Sun TV properties by ED, Justice M. Sathyanarayanan said that he was not inclined to entertain the plea and directed Sun TV and Kal Communications to approach the Supreme Court which is monitoring the Aircel-Maxis case.
The petitions challenged the 31st March provisional attachment of Sun TV properties by ED for assets worth Rs.742.58 crore in the name of the promoters of Sun TV and other family members under provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The high court had on 2nd June reserved its orders on the petitions.
The properties of Sun TV and Kal Communications in several localities in Chennai, Tiruchirappalli and Bengaluru have been attached by ED in the case filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on 20th September 2011. This was for the alleged illegal gratification amounting to Rs.742.58 crore received by various companies owned by Sun TV promoters, under the guise of investments in Sun Direct Television Pvt. Ltd and South Asia FM Ltd.
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.
