Chennai: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Chennai Zonal Office, has provisionally attached immovable properties worth ₹1.26 crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. These properties, located in Thoothukudi, Madurai, and Chennai, belong to Tamil Nadu’s Minister for Fisheries, Fishermen Welfare, and Animal Husbandry, Anitha R. Radhakrishnan, and others involved in alleged money laundering activities.

The ED investigation stems from a First Information Report (FIR) filed by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC), Thoothukudi, under Section 13(2) read with Section 13(1)(e) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

The FIR alleged that Radhakrishnan amassed disproportionate assets amounting to ₹2.07 crore during the period from May 14, 2001, to March 31, 2006. Following the investigation, the DVAC filed a chargesheet with the Chief Judicial Magistrate and Special Judge in Thoothukudi.

In 2022, the ED had provisionally attached 18 immovable properties worth approximately ₹1 crore in connection with the same case. The recent attachment follows further investigations, revealing that Radhakrishnan and his family continued to possess and benefit from proceeds of crime (POC).

According to the ED, a portion of the POC was laundered through investments in various firms. These funds were layered via cash deposits and loans, which were repaid in cash to disguise the origins of the money. The laundering process resulted in significant profits that were reinvested into acquiring more immovable properties.

Investigations have also uncovered that Radhakrishnan and his family generated approximately ₹17.74 crore in additional POC after the initial check period. These funds were indirectly derived from properties previously attached by the ED in 2022. The family allegedly acquired new properties using profits sourced from the originally attached assets, further reinforcing the money laundering allegations.

The attached properties and the transactions involved, according to the ED, prima facie establish that the funds used were derived from illicit activities. The ED has stated that investigations into the case are ongoing, signaling the possibility of further developments in the matter.