ED searches underway in Chennai; Searches also at VCK leader’s house

CHENNAI: The Enforcement Directorate on Saturday conducted searches various locations in Tamil Nadu as part of a money laundering investigation linked to probe alleged illegal sand mining in the state, official sources said.

The premises of Aadhav Arjuna, son-in-law of 'lottery king' Santiago Martin and deputy general secretary of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), the sources said.

Reports said that searches are also underway at properties of businessmen in Coimbatore.

About 10 premises are being searched in the alleged illegal sand mining case that is being investigated by the ED under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), they said.

Martin has been probed by the ED as part of another money laundering case that stems from a CBI case against him and others for alleged offences relating to the sale of lotteries of the Sikkim government.

Martin, known as the ''lottery king'', and his company-- Future Gaming Solutions India Pvt. Ltd.-- was stated to be the master distributor of Sikkim lotteries.

Speculations were making rounds that Aadhav Arjun would be fielded as a VCK candidate in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The raid comes a day after VCK clinched a deal with DMK and finalised its ties with the INDIA bloc.

Further information on the reason for the searches and the outcome is awaited.

(With inputs from Bureau)