DMK MP A Raja’s Rs 55 crore assets seized by ED in money laundering probe
The Enforcement Directorate( ED) has taken possession of 15 irremovable “benami” parcels, worth about Rs 55 crore, belonging to DMK MP and former Union Minister A Raja. The move comes as part of a plutocrat laundering inquiry against the politician. The parcels were allegedly held in the name of Raja’s associates and family members, and the ED has been probing them several times. The ED has been probing Raja’s involvement in the 2G diapason fiddle, which took place during his term as the Telecom Minister in the UPA government. The fiddle involved the allocation of 2G diapason licenses at below-request prices, causing a loss of billions of bones to the bankroll.
Raja was arrested in 2011 and spent over a time in jail before being granted bail. He was acquitted in 2017 by a special court, which set up no substantiation of wrongdoing on his part. Still, the ED has continued to probe Raja’s means and fiscal deals, professing that he acquired them through illegal means. The agency has preliminarily attached several of his parcels, including a house in Delhi and a grange in Tamil Nadu. The rearmost seizure of 15 benami parcels is a significant development in the case, and it remains to be seen what further action the ED will take. The seizure of Benami parcels is a common tactic used by law enforcement agencies to crack down on black plutocrats and plutocrats laundering. Benami parcels are those that are held in the name of someone other than the factual proprietor, frequently to conceal the true source of the finances used to acquire them. The Benami Deals( Prohibition) Act of 1988, provides for the confiscation of benami parcels and imposes penalties on those involved in similar deals. The ED’s action against Raja is likely to have political counteraccusations, given that he’s an elderly leader of the DMK, which is presently in power in Tamil Nadu. Raja is a two-time MP from the Nilgiris constituency and has been a prominent figure in Tamil Nadu politics for several decades. The DMK has defended Raja, with party spokespersons professing that the ED’s conduct is politically motivated and aimed at darkening his image.
The seizure of Raja’s means is also likely to have a truculent effect on other politicians and public officers who may be involved in loose practices. The ED has been stepping up its sweats to crack down on profitable offenses, and the seizure of benami parcels is one of the tools at its disposal. The agency has also been using other measures similar as attachment of bank accounts and allocation of lookout notices to help suspects from leaving the country. In conclusion, the ED’s seizure of 15 benami parcels belonging to DMK MP A Raja is a significant development in the ongoing plutocrat laundering inquiry against him. The parcels, worth about Rs 55 crore, were allegedly held in the name of Raja’s associates and family members. The seizure is likely to have political counteraccusations , given that Raja is a elderly leader of the DMK. The action is also likely to have a truculent effect on other politicians and public officers who may be involved in loose practices.
References:
[1] https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chennai/ed-takes-possession-of-15-benami-assets-linked-to-dmk-mp-a-raja-8976459/
[2] https://www.zeebiz.com/india/news-ed-takes-possession-of-15-benami-assets-linked-to-dmk-mp-a-raja-258592
[3] https://www.deccanherald.com/india/tamil-nadu/ed-takes-possession-of-15-benami-assets-linked-to-dmk-mp-a-raja-2720195
[4] https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ed-takes-possession-of-15-benami-properties-linked-to-dmk-mp-a-raja-2447251-2023-10-11
[5] https://www.indiatvnews.com/tamil-nadu/news-enforcement-directorate-takes-possession-of-benami-assets-linked-to-dmk-mp-a-raja-as-part-of-money-laundering-probe-2023-10-10-897142
[6] https://www.pgurus.com/ed-takes-possession-of-15-benami-assets-linked-to-2g-scamster-a-raja/
