ED attaches 45 acres land owned by former DMK minister A Raja’s ‘benami’ company

New Delhi: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has provisionally attached 45 acres of land in Coimbatore District held in the name of a Benami Company of A. Raja, former Cabinet Minister, Ministry of Environment & Forest during the period 2004-2007.

During the course of the PMLA investigation, ED found that A. Raja, during his tenure as Minister of Environment & Forests (2004 to 2007) has 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) during his tenure. Further, during the course of the PMLA investigation, ED has found that the Real-estate company has given a 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 one Benami company of A. Raja. It is found that A. Raja incorporated the company in the same year 2007 in the name of his family members and his close family friend, with the sole objective of using it as a vehicle to park the proceeds of crime. The said company was never engaged in any business activity since inception and the entire money received in the company was quid pro quo from the Real Estate Deal and was used for acquiring land in Coimbatore District.

Thus, The properties of 45 acres of land in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, worth Rs.55 Crore) have been purchased directly using the proceeds of crime, (illegal payment made as quid pro quo for obtaining Environmental Clearances) and have been provisionally attached by the Directorate.

Further investigation into the case is under progress.