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A Raja’s 15 properties seized
The ED has taken possession of 15 immovable properties owned by A. Raja, former Union cabinet minister of environment and forest in the name of his benami company Kovai Shelters Promoters India Pvt Ltd, under the provisions of PMLA, 2002, in the matter of disproportionate assets case.
The ED says its investigation revealed A. Raja, during his tenure as minister of environment & forests (2004 to 2007), granted environmental clearances to a real estate company, based out of Gurugram (one of the largest real estate companies in the country, also listed on BSE).
The ED says the real-estate company gave “kickback to A. Raja as quid pro quo” for awarding the environmental clearance around the same period in the year 2007, in the garb of land commission income in the hands of his benami company.
Raja had incorporated the company in 2007 in the name of his family members and his close family friend, allegedly with the “sole objective of using it as a vehicle to park the proceeds of crime”.
The ED says the said company never engaged in any business activity since its inception.
The ED says its probe established that the properties measuring 45 acres of land in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (worth around Rs 55 crore) were purchased directly using the proceeds of crime generated by Raja.
“Therefore, in order to prevent the accused and his benamis from enjoying such properties, the ED has invoked the provisions of Section 8(4) of PMLA and taken possession of the properties attached vide Provisional Attachment Order dated 20.12.2022, which was subsequently confirmed by the Hon’ble Adjudicating Authority (PMLA), Delhi vide order dated 01.06.2023,” says the ED, adding that the further probe is under progress.
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