2G scam: ED to attach properties worth Rs223 crore

For the first time in the 2G scam case, the Enforcement Directorate will attach immovable property worth Rs223 crore of five companies in connection with the alleged bribe of Rs200 crore paid to Kalaignar TV after an anti-money laundering court today gave its nod.

The competent authority under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) approved the ED order for attachment after hearing the arguments of all the parties.

"The attachment order has been upheld by the PMLA court here," official sources said.

The value of properties attached of these companies are Dynamix Realty (Rs134 crore), Conwood Construction and Developers (Rs22 crore), Nihar Constructions (Rs1.10 crore), DB Realty (Rs52 crore) and Eversmile Construction Company (Rs13 crore).

The agency had made the CBI charge sheets in this regard as the basis for this order.

"As per the charge sheets of CBI, a bribe of Rs 200 crore was given by Swan Telecom Pvt. Ltd. (now M/s Etisalat DB Telecom Pvt. Ltd.) to Kalaignar TV through a number of intermediary companies in the garb of loan or share application money.

"However, the same was returned to Dynamix Realty (a company of Shahid Usman Balwa and Vinod Goenka)," ED had earlier said in its order.

"The details of the charge sheets show disclosures made by the intermediary companies in the movement of the bribe money under the garb of loan or share application money do not substantiate genuine and bonafide financial transactions," the order said.