Pradeep Thakur, TNN | Apr 26, 2011, 04.24am IST

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ED-to-charge-Kanimozhi-for-money-laundering/articleshow/8086224.cms

NEW DELHI: Enforcement Directorate is all set to slap charges under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against DMK leader Kanimozhi, who was chargesheeted by the CBI on Monday as a co-conspirator in the 2G scam.

Sources said formal slapping of charges under PMLA would be followed by attachment of properties belonging to Kalaignar TV, of which she is one of the major shareholders. DMK chief M Karunanidhi's wife Dayalu Ammal and his daughter Kanimozhi together hold 80% stake in Kalaignar TV, while Sharad Kumar, MD of the channel, holds the remaining 20%.

After charges are framed against her under PMLA, Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi may be summoned for questioning by ED at its Delhi office, sources said. ED has already issued summons to former telecom minister A Raja under PMLA for appearance at its Delhi office for questioning. The basis of the questioning of both Raja and Kanimozhi could be a link that the enforcement agency has established with the beneficiaries of the 2G telecom licences while trailing a payment of Rs 50 crore to Kalaignar TV.

The DMK-family owned Kalaignar TV had received Rs 50 crore from Seychelles-based Shiva Group company, Hitech Housing Projects Pvt Ltd, in June 2007 layered through several transactions. This Shiva Group company had also allegedly funded one of the telecom companies that got 2G spectrum and licence in 2008.

The CBI's supplementary chargesheet on Monday accused Kalaignar TV of receiving Rs 200 crore from DB Group, which controls Swan Telecom. The investigation agency found that this money was returned with interest after it summoned Raja and began investigations under Supreme Court supervision.

Investigators said they have found eerie resemblance between both the payments, officially claimed to be unsecured loans but returned in a hurry after CBI and ED began to trail the transactions. Others who have been charged under PMLA in the 2G scam and summoned for questioning include former telecom secretary Siddharth Behura, Raja's private secretary R K Chandolia and DB Realty's Shahid Balwa. All of them are in judicial custody.

PMLA has also been invoked against three top executives of Reliance Telecom — group managing director Gautam Doshi and two of the company's vice-presidents, Hari Nair and Surendra Pipara.