Action taken by enforcement department in drug money laundering case, assets worth Rs. 55 crores of sacked DMK leader Zafar Sadiq have been seized.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday took major action in the drug and money laundering case. ED has seized assets worth Rs 55 crore in a drug money laundering case against ousted Chennai-based DMK chief Zafar Sadiq and some of his associates. ED seized properties worth Rs 55.30 crore belonging to Zafar Sadiq. It includes JSM Residency Hotel, luxurious bungalow and 7 expensive cars like Mercedes and Jaguar. Zafar Sadiq, a DMK associate and producer of Tamil films, is accused of using drug money to build hotels, buy properties and fund the DMK. He also made films with the same money, the ED said in a statement: The Center has on September 2 issued an interim order under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to seize 14 properties, including JSM Residency Hotel, a luxury bungalow. Seven expensive vehicles such as Jaguar and Mercedes are included. The ED had arrested Sadiq last June, alleging that the accused acquired these assets through “criminal” activities. The ED arrested 36-year-old Sadiq in June, while his brother Mohammad Saleem was arrested in August. The ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu ended up expelling Tamil filmmaker Sadiq, the Chennai West vice-organiser of the party's NRI wing, in February-March over his alleged links to a drug network. A senior DMK leader, who distanced himself from Sadiq and his illegal activities, said the party has more than two crore members and it is practically impossible to check the antecedents of every person who joins it. The ED framed these charges against Sadiq, alleging that Sadiq was actively involved in the “covert export” of pseudoephedrine and other drugs along with his brother Salim and others. The ED alleged that Sadiq and his associates laundered the proceeds of crime from their drug activities by investing in various legitimate ventures like real estate, film production, hospitality and logistics. The proceeds of crime were channeled into these investments through a network of bank accounts, including accounts controlled by Sadiq and his family members. The ED investigation found that the laundered funds were used to purchase immovable and immovable properties in the names of Sadiq, his wife Amina Banu, a person named Maydeen Ghani and others, including Mohammad Mustafa S and Jamal Mohammad.