CHENNAI:A Mumbai-based money launderer who allegedly helped con man Sukash Chandrasekhar and small time actress Leena Maria Paul was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED)for laundering over Rs 19 crore sourced by him and others after cheating a nationalised bank.
The arrest comes soon after Leena and Sukash were arrested in Mumbai for another case.
The present arrest came on an alleged case of cheating in 2013 when Canara Bank registered a criminal case with Chennai police against a few of its officials, private entities and Leena for cheating Rs 19.21 crore.
KSVV Prasad, joint director, ED said that during the probe under Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, it was found that Ajit Jain and Meghraj Jain of Mangal Royal Jewels were instrumental in laundering Rs 19 crore, the proceeds of the crime.
“They got the money from Future Techniks, Chennai in the name of several dummy companies and paid the mastermind Sukash Chandrasekhar in cash on commission basis,” Prasad said.
Ajit Jain has apparently confessed being instrumental in laundering the proceeds, and was arrested under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. He was remanded to judicial custody, and is now in Puzhal Central Prison, Prasad added.
Probe showed that the money was transferred to six Mumbai based companies through RTGS and the amounts were used for several purposes making it look like untainted money.
“Based on the probe, two provisional attachment orders were issued so far attaching Rs 13 crore in various bank accounts and nine luxury cars worth Rs 7 crore. Both the orders were confirmed by PMLA adjudicating Authority in New Delhi,” said Prasad.
Besides the arrest of Leena and Sukash, the Central crime Branch in Chennai, based on a complaint from Canara Bank, has already registered a case and arrested both the managing director and director of Future Techniks and the then chief general manager of Canara Bank, Ambattur in 2013.