ED takes possession of 15 ‘benami’ assets linked to DMK MP A Raja

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday took possession of 15 immovable properties owned by former Telecom Minister A Raja in the name of his benami company under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in connection with a disproportionate assets (DA) case against him.

The case pertains to Raja’s tenure as Union Minister of Environment and Forest from 2004 to 2007 in the UPA-1 regime. According to the ED, Raja granted environmental clearances to a Gurgaon-based real estate company, which gave kickbacks to the minister as quid pro quo.