Shell firms used to bribe ex-minister Vaithilingam

CHENNAI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED), in a recent letter written to the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC), has shared details regarding an alleged money laundering operation facilitated by Shriram Properties and its managing director through shell companies in connivance with former AIADMK housing minister R Vaithilingam and his sons for getting approval for a housing project in 2015-16.

The ED’s probe into the Rs 27.9 crore bribe allegedly paid by Shriram Properties to Vaithilingam has found that the amount was generated by a group company through dubious cash transactions disguised as payments received from 36 scrap vendors, DVAC sources said.