ED attaches properties worth ₹100 crore of former AIADMK Minister R. Vaithilingam under PMLA
The HinduThe Chennai Zonal Office of the Directorate of Enforcement has attached two immovable properties worth more than ₹100 crore belonging to R. Vaithilingam, MLA of Orathanadu and former Tamil Nadu Minister for Housing and Urban Development. The attached properties were registered in the name of Muthammal Estates Private limited, an entity owned by Mr. Vaithilingam’s family. The ED investigation pertains to an FIR registered by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption under section 120B of Indian Penal Code, 1860, and Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, against Mr. Vaithilingam, who was then the Minister for Housing and Urban Development. Based on the case, the ED conducted searches and uncovered a carefully-planned modus operandi involving the use of shell entities to disguise the bribe payments as share application money.