ED Conducts Raids at 15 Locations in Chennai and Kancheepuram in Land Acquisition Money Laundering Case
ED raids 15 locations in Tamil Nadu over alleged land acquisition money laundering.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out extensive searches on Wednesday at 15 locations across Chennai and Kancheepuram districts as part of a money laundering investigation connected to alleged corruption in land acquisition for infrastructure projects by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT). The operation targeted businessmen engaged in sectors such as jewellery, iron trading, real estate, and finance.
Officials began the raids early morning and continued throughout the day, focusing on residences and business premises in areas including Sowcarpet, Kilpauk, KK Nagar, Saidapet, MGR Nagar, Ambattur, and others. The probes stemmed from two FIRs filed by Kancheepuram police in 2022 and 2023, investigating cases where fake landowners allegedly secured crores in compensation by submitting forged ownership documents.
The investigation revealed collusion between government officials and land promoters in transferring government-owned land to private entities. One case involved individuals seeking interest on Rs 21.1 crore paid as compensation for land acquired for SIPCOT expansion; however, the land parcels were found to have been registered through fraudulent documents. Another FIR concerns irregularities in land acquisition by NHAI for highway expansion in the district.
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ED officials scrutinized documents, digital devices, and financial records, aiming to trace the money trail associated with the alleged laundering activity. Security personnel from the CRPF provided protection during the raids. The operations mark a significant step in efforts to clamp down on large-scale land scams that involve both bureaucratic collusion and fraudulent businessmen exploiting public resources.
The ongoing probe highlights systemic issues within land acquisition processes and the urgency for transparent mechanisms to safeguard public assets, ensuring compensation is rightfully granted. Further updates are expected as the agency analyzes seized materials and interrogates those involved.
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