NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) probing money-laundering in the controversial Aircel-Maxis deal has sent judicial requests to Malaysia and Mauritius to get details of suspected individuals and foreign entities that were used to camouflage alleged kickbacks paid to companies promoted by former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran’s family. The ED has alleged that Rs 742 crore shown as investment “was not a purely business-driven investment but was illegal gratification in the nature of quid pro quo in lieu of approvals granted by accused Dayanidhi Maran, the then telecom minister.”
The Letter Rogatory (LR) to Malaysia sought details about T Ananda Krishnan and investments made by his companies in India between 2005-2011. The ED’s LR has mentioned Krishnan’s address: “Level 44, Menara Maxis, KLCC Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutum, Malaysia - 50088. It has also sought details of Ralph Marshall who, as per the LR, lives at “Villa D Zephyr Point No 1, Lorong Basong, Bukit Damansara, 50490 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia”.
The ED has asked the Malaysian government to provide details from banks and financial intelligence units regarding investments made in India by the companies, Maxis Communication and Astro All Asia Network, owned by Krishnan. Astro All Asia Networks Plc’s office as per ED’s record is at “All Asia Broadcast Centre, Technology Park Malaysia, Lebuhraya Puchong-Sungai Besi, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur”.
The company was incorporated in England with registered office at “10 Upper Bank Street, London, E145JJ, United Kingdom”.
The ED has alleged that Astro All Asia Network Plc invested over Rs 193 crore in South Asia FM Limited, which is a subsidiary of Sun TV Network Ltd, promoted by Kalanithi Maran, brother of the former telecom minister. The ED has said that Astro All Asia Network Plc used subsidiaries “South Asia Software Technologies Ltd and South Asia Multimedia Technologies Ltd, both the companies based in Mauritius to wire the money into the company owned by Maran’s family. It has further alleged that accused T Ananda Krishnan held 42.49 per cent indirect shareholding in Astro All Asia Network Plc.
ED Officials said the information regarding investment made by Malaysia-based companies will be crucial as the authorities had in 2013 refused to share financial transactions details related Maxis and Astro All Asia Network Plc.
The LR sent to the Mauritius government has also sought details of Global Communications Services Holdings Ltd. Its office mentioned in the LR is at “Rogers house, 5 President House, John Kennedy Street, Port Louis, Mauritius”. According to ED’s letter, Global Communications Services, incorporated in 1995, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Maxis Communication Berhad Malaysia.
The ED has sought official details of another company, South Asia Entertainment Holdings Ltd which allegedly invested over Rs 549 crore in Sun Direct TV Pvt Ltd wholly owned by Maran’s. According to ED’s request, South Asia Entertainment Holdings Ltd is situated at “10 Ferere Felix De Valois Street, Port Louis, Mauritius”.
Earlier, Mauritian authorities responding to an LR of Central Bureau of Investigation had informed that South Asia Entertainment Holdings Ltd was incorporated on October 17, 2006, with M/S Tiger Nominees Ltd as sole shareholder of the company. Within a few days of incorporation (on October 27, 2006) Tiger Nominees transferred its share to Astro Overseas Ltd, Bermuda, with accused Ralph Marshall as director of the company. As per the details provided by the Supreme Court of Bermuda to the CBI, Astro All Asia Network was the majority shareholder of Astro Overseas Ltd.