Chennai, July 27 (FN Agency) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday attached properties of renowned Chettinad Group to the tune of Rs 298 crores under the PMLA Act in the coal handling contract case at Vizag Port. In a post on X, the ED said “ED, Chennai has provisionally attached immovable properties worth Rs. 298.21 Crore (approx.) of M/s. South India Corporation Ltd. (SICPL), a Group company of M/s. Chettinad Group, under the provisions of the PMLA, 2002.” ED initiated investigation on the basis of an FIR registered by Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC), Chennai, under various sections of IPC, 1860 and Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 against the former officials of Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation, Chennai (TANGEDCO) and SICPL. Investigations revealed that in the year 2001, contract for handling the coal at the Vizag Port during its transportation via rail-sea-rail route was awarded to SICPL for the period of five months only.
However, even before opening of the bids in the said tender, Western Agencies Madras Pvt Ltd. filed a civil suit before the City Civil Court, Chennai. The c ourt had ordered time to time injunction till 2019. SICPL paid an amount of Rs 217.31 crore (approx.) as levy to Vishakapattinam Port Trust for the period between 2011-12 to 2018-19, whereas TANGEDCO had paid an amount of Rs 1,126.10 crore (approx.) to SICPL as reimbursement of levy. Thus, difference between the above said amount, that is Rs 908.79 crore (approx.) was the loss caused to TANGEDCO and wrongful gain to the SICPL. During April, 2023, ED conducted searches under PMLA, 2002 in various premises belonging to SICPL and others, and an amount of Rs 358.20 crore held in the form of fixed deposits lying with the Bank account of SCIPL was frozen. Further investigation is under progress.