ED attaches Tamil Nadu Fisheries Minister's assets worth Rs 1.26 crore

The Enforcement Directorate has attached assets worth Rs 1.26 crore of Tamil Nadu Fisheries Minister Anitha R. Radhakrishnan in a money-laundering case, an official said on Thursday.

The assets were located in Thoothukudi, Madurai and Chennai. In 2022 as well, the federal probe agency attached 18 immovable properties valued at Rs 1 crore.

Sharing details, the official said the ED initiated investigation on the basis of an FIR registered by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC), Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, against the Minister for acquiring assets disproportionate to his known sources of income in the name of his family members.

Subsequently, the Vigilance Department filed a chargesheet before a local court for acquiring assets disproportionate to his known sources of income to the tune of Rs 2.07 crore (approx.) between May, 2001 and March, 2006.

The official said the agency’s investigation revealed that the Minister and his family members are still in possession of the proceeds of crime viz. disproportionate assets amassed during the check period and are deriving benefits from it.

“Further, a part of the proceeds of crime was also found invested in various firms, i.e., placed in the financial system and laundered by layering in the form of cash deposits and by obtaining loan which was further repaid by cash so as to project the same as untainted,” the official said.

Moreover, the proceeds of crime were finally integrated by generating huge profits from the said firms and acquiring more immovable properties during the period subsequent to the check period.

”It was found that Anitha R. Radhakrishnan and his family members generated approximately Rs 17.74 crore of subsequent total proceeds of crime,” the official said, adding further probe is still on.