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Journalism of Courage
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is all set to file its first chargesheet under the Prevention of Money Laundering (PMLA) against 200 persons including founder of Satyam Computer,B Ramalinga Raju,alleged to be behind Rs 7,000 crore scam.
The agency is said to have attached properties worth Rs 1,000 crore of the group including bank accounts,shares,movable and immovable assets.
The agency said that a large number of accused are due to the fact that small companies floated by associates of Raju were used to launder money and they have been made accused in EDs case.
The agency said that the delay in filing of the chargesheet was primarily because of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the main case of fraud and cheating against Raju.
While CBIs case was being tried in a separate court,ED was to file its chargesheet before a PMLA court in Hyderabad,which created problem as under Article 20 (2) of the Constitution,no accused can be tried for the same offence twice,said officials.
After consultations with the law ministry,it was decided to notify the ED court in Hyderabad as the designated court for the trial of money laundering as well as CBI case against Raju. ED officials said that with the legal hurdle solved,they expect to file the charge-sheet by next week.
