ED Attaches Assets of DMK Minister Anitha Radhakrishnan In A Money Laundering Case Based On A Case Filed During Previous DMK Regime

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) today (Feb 2) said that it has attached properties worth Rs 6.5 crore belonging to Anitha R Radhakrishnan, who is currently the Fisheries, Fishermen's Welfare, and Animal Husbandry Minister in the DMK government led by Chief Minister M.K Stalin.

The agency said in a statement that the action has been taken against the minister under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

''The ED initiated money laundering investigation on the basis of an FIR registered by the directorate of vigilance and anti-corruption, Thoothukudi detachment, against Anitha R Radhakrishnan, under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 for acquiring assets disproportionate to his known sources of income to the tune of Rs 2 crore,'' the agency said.

''The guideline value of the attached properties is around Rs 6.5 crore,'' the ED said.

The minister won the assembly seat of Tiruchendur on a DMK ticket last year.

The case under PMLA Act was first filed against the Minister and his family members on the basis of a case of disproportionate assets registered by the DVAC Tamil Nadu (Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption) in 2006. The case was filed by the then DMK government led by late chief Minister M.Karunanidhi.

Radhakrishnan was finally charge-sheeted in 2019, and is pending trial in a designated court in Thoothukudi.

In October 2021, the ED transferred the cases from its Madurai unit to Chennai, as both the ministers are present in the Tamil Nadu capital for most of the time.

Ironically the case against Radhakrishnan was filed by the DMK government in 2006. Radhakrishnan was then in AIADMK. He had served as minister for more than four-and-a-half years during the previous AIADMK reign.

Radhakrishnan switched allegiance to the ruling DMK in 2009. He resigned his assembly seat and was re-elected contesting as a DMK candidate in the ensuing byelection. He won again as DMK candidate in 2011 assembly elections. However DMK was swept out of power in the state.

Radhakrishnan made several attempts to rejoin AIADMK. He repeatedly praised late Chief Minister and party supremo J.Jayalalitha for which he invited the ire of DMK leadership. He was even suspended from DMK in 2015. However due to resistance of local party cadres in the district, Radhakrishnan's attempt to rejoin AIADMK never materialised. He later made peace with DMK high command and his suspension was lifted.