ED attaches properties of Lankans linked to LTTE

CHENNAI: Enforcement Directorate on Thursday attached three immovable properties - one bungalow on ECR and two agricultural lands in Tiruvannamalai owned by Sri Lankan Nationals Gunasekaran alias Perama Kumar and his son Dileep alias Thileep, who has links with LTTE, valued around Rs 33.7 lakh in connection with a money laundering case recorded against certain Sri Lankan individuals.

ED initiated money laundering based on an FIR dated registered by the Q-Branch, CID, Kancheepuram in October 2020. It is alleged that Gunasekaran, his son Dileep and others have committed offences covered under the Foreigners Act, Passports Act, NDPS Act, and Indian Penal Code. The accused had created and used fake identity cards such as PAN, Aadhaar, and driving licenses over a period and stayed illegally in India.

Gunasekaran was in the news recently when the NIA raided a special camp in Tiruchy, where he was lodged with other foreign nationals involved in crime in Tamil Nadu. During investigation under PMLA, 2002, it was found out that Gunasekaran, A Suresh Raj and Mohamed Sherif and Raja Medura Gedara alias Gamini were involved in buying and selling drugs covered under the NDPS, Act, and for the said crime they were convicted by the Special Court under the NDPS Act, Chennai in 2011.

After completion of their stay in the prison, they further changed their identity and generated proceeds of crime. The properties attached in the instant case are all purchased after 2011 and the accused were not able to explain the source of funds used in the purchase of the same. It was further revealed that the market value of the said immovable properties is much higher than the value mentioned in the documents.

The investigation further revealed that certain individuals were actively linked to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Accused Gunasekaran was charged with attacking former Sri Lankan Prime Minister Chandrika Kumaratunga