Karnataka lottery scam: ED attaches Rs 122 cr assets

www.mangaloretoday.com

New Delhi, Apr 8, 2016: ED has attached assets worth over Rs 122 crore in connection with its money laundering probe in the Karnataka Lottery scam case.

The agency said it attached immovable assets belonging to four companies in Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore in connection with the case, which it said, has been registered under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after taking cognisance of a CBI FIR of last year to probe the same case.

The agency, in a statement, identified the firms as Daison Land and Development Private Limited, Charles Realtors Private Limited, Martin Multi Projects Private Limited and Daison Luxury Villas Private Limited belonging to S Martin of Karnataka lottery scam.

"The investigation was initiated following the charge sheet filed by the CBI in the scam against S Martin, N Jayamurughan and others...

"Investigation of the Directorate has established that manipulations done by the partnership firm M J Associates partnered by Martin and Jayamurughan resulted in unlawful financial gain to its partners. This proceeds of crime was used for creating assets which have now been attached," the agency said.

It said the total value of the attachment done under PMLA laws is Rs 122.40 crore.

Lottery business was banned in the state in 2007, but it is alleged that the syndicate runners kept thriving with the ’involvement’ of senior officers.

A senior IPS was also suspended in connection with this case by the state government last year.

The state government had sent the case to CBI after the opposition BJP and JDS mounted pressure on it to hand over the multi-crore scam to the central agency for a fair and transparent probe to bring out alleged involvement of senior officials and politicians.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the state police had probed the case and had submitted an interim report to the state government on the basis of which the Indian Police Service (IPS) officer was suspended.

An attachment order under PMLA is aimed at depriving the accused from obtaining benefits of their alleged ill-gotten wealth and the accused can appeal against the order before the Adjudicating Authority of the said Act within 180 days.