Santiago Martin, Family Move Madras High Court Against ED Property Attachment
Martin family challenges ED property attachment before Madras HC
The Madras High Court on Tuesday issued notice to the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on a batch of 39 appeals filed by lottery operator Santiago Martin, members of his family, and several entities linked to the Martin family, challenging the attachment of properties worth more than ₹900 crore in connection with a money laundering case.
The appeals have been filed by multiple petitioners, including Martin, his wife, his daughter and son-in-law, as well as companies and business entities associated with the family. Among those involved in the challenge are the wife of TVK minister Aadhav Arjuna and her parents, who have questioned the legality of the Enforcement Directorate’s actions in attaching the properties.
A division bench of the High Court took up the matter and issued notices to the central agency, seeking its response to the appeals. The petitioners have challenged orders related to the attachment of assets that form part of an ongoing investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The case has its origins in an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) registered by the ED in 2014 against Martin and others.
The money laundering investigation was initiated on the basis of a chargesheet filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which alleged offences linked to the underlying predicate case. Under the PMLA framework, the ED is empowered to investigate the proceeds of crime arising from scheduled offences and attach properties believed to be connected to such activities.
According to court records, the properties under challenge are collectively valued at more than ₹900 crore. The appellants have argued that the attachment orders are unsustainable and have sought judicial intervention to set them aside. Detailed grounds of challenge are expected to be examined during subsequent hearings.
The ED, meanwhile, has maintained in previous proceedings that the assets were attached as part of its investigation into alleged money laundering activities. The agency’s response to the latest appeals will be crucial in determining the future course of the litigation before the High Court.
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The case is significant not only because of the value of the attached assets but also due to the prominence of the individuals involved. Martin is one of India’s best-known lottery operators and has faced multiple investigations over the years, while the inclusion of family members and associated business entities broadens the scope of the legal challenge.
With notices now issued, the matter is expected to return before the High Court after the Enforcement Directorate files its reply. The court will then consider the merits of the appeals and determine whether the property attachments should remain in force pending the outcome of the money laundering proceedings.
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