Chennai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested former DMK leader Jaffer Sadiq in connection with a drug-related money laundering case. Sadiq, who was already incarcerated in Tihar Jail under an NDPS case, was interrogated by ED officials and subsequently arrested on June 26. The ED plans to seek his remand once he is produced in court.
Earlier this month, Delhi's Patiala House Court granted the ED permission to examine Jaffer Sadiq in Tihar Jail and record his statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Special NDPS Judge Sudhir Kumar Sirohi allowed the ED to interrogate Sadiq on June 25 and 26, directing jail authorities to facilitate the necessary arrangements.
The Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) for the ED, N.K. Matta, requested that ED officers be allowed to use a laptop and printer during the interrogation to record and have Sadiq sign his statements. This was essential due to the recovery of 50kg of pseudoephedrine linked to the case. Although Sadiq was previously examined from May 8 to 10, the investigation was incomplete, prompting the need for further interrogation.
Previously, on May 1, the court permitted the ED to record statements of Sadiq and four other accused individuals—Mukesh PU, Mujeepur Rahaman R, Ashok Kumar, and SG Sadanandan (Sathanantham)—in Tihar Jail under Section 50 of the PMLA. Special Judge Sudhir Kumar Sirohi granted the ED officials the liberty to bring laptops, printers, and other necessary items for this purpose.
The ED's investigation is part of a broader probe into drug-related money laundering activities involving Jaffer Sadiq and others, including raids at various sites in Tamil Nadu. The ED's case against Sadiq was registered following his arrest by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) for alleged involvement in international drug trafficking.
According to official sources, the NCB discovered Sadiq's connections with high-profile individuals during their investigation. Sadiq was identified as the leader of a network that sourced pseudoephedrine in India and trafficked it to Australia, New Zealand, and Malaysia under the guise of food-grade cargo. The NCB believes Sadiq's drug syndicate dispatched 45 consignments containing a total of 3,500 kilograms of pseudoephedrine to various countries over three years.
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