Sahara Group under scanner in Koda and other cases: SC told

Sahara Group under scanner in Koda and other cases: SC told

Sahara Group of companies are under CBI and Enforcement Directorate's scanner not only in relation to 2G spectrum scam but also in at least three other cases including money laundering scam allegedly involving former Jharkhand CM Madhu Koda and Jet Airways' takeover of Sahara Airlines, the Supreme Court was told.

The information regarding this was provided in the petition filed by ED's Assistant Director Rajeshwar Singh while seeking contempt action against Sahara group Chief Subrata Roy and two scribes for allegedly interfering with the investigation of the 2G spectrum case.

"There is yet another investigation which is popularly referred as Madhu Koda scam case in respect of which the division bench of Jharkhand High Court has issued directions, directing CBI and ED to investigate offences under Prevention of Money Laundering Act, Foreign Exchange Management Act," the petition said on Friday.

Further, Singh, in his petition, said "it may not be out of place to mention that Sahara Airlines, which is now taken over by Jet Airways and operated under the banner of Jetlite, are also facing investigations for violation under FERA (Foreign Exchange Regulation Act)".

The petition referred to the status reports filed by ED in the 2G case which stated that "S-Tel had arranged for certain funds from various groups to pay licence fee".

It alleged Sahara India Investment Corporation, now known as Sahara Prime City Ltd, had "invested Rs 14 crores in S-Tel on the same day (August 28, 2007) when S-Tel had applied for 16 telecom licences".

The petition said ED has been investigating Sahara's alleged involvement in Madhu Koda scam case where the agency suspects that "large amount of funds which are tainted money and proceeds of crime have been invested in Sahara Group companies by those accused persons with a view to projecting them as untainted money."

In another case of alleged FEMA violation, the petition said "Subrata Roy, along with others, has deposited an amount of Rs 150 crores, which has been rotated through a maze of financial transactions between accounts of Sahara Corporation and Sahara India within the same branch and bank."

Another Sahara Group company had paid Rs 9.50 crore in August 2007 to one Sky City Foundation Pvt Ltd which, in turn, invested the same amount in S-Tel just before it applied to the Department of Telecommunication for issuance of 2G licence, the petition said.