In a major development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a charge sheet against alleged drug kingpin Jaffer Sadiq, accusing him of laundering money earned from his narcotics business by investing it in his film production company. The ED is seeking to seize all assets of the companies owned by Sadiq, including his film ventures, as part of the ongoing money laundering case.The charge sheet also implicates renowned film director Ameer Sultan, who the ED claims handled the money routed through the drug network. Additionally, Sadiq’s wife and brother have been named in the charge sheet, further intensifying the case’s scope.
Jaffer Sadiq, a former Tamil film producer and a functionary of the DMK before his expulsion following the allegations, was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) for smuggling large quantities of pseudoephedrine to Australia and New Zealand. Post-arrest, Sadiq was lodged in Delhi’s Tihar Jail.
The ED launched its own investigation into the case, formally arresting Sadiq on June 26, 2023, for money laundering related to his drug trafficking operations. In a detailed 300-page charge sheet submitted to the principal sessions court in Chennai, the ED alleged that Sadiq used his drug trafficking earnings to fund eight companies, including his film production house.
The case has drawn significant attention due to the involvement of Ameer Sultan, a prominent name in the Tamil film industry, whose links to the tainted money have brought him under scrutiny. With the ED seeking the seizure of all assets connected to Sadiq, the case represents a major crackdown on the nexus between narcotics and money laundering in the film industry.
The investigation continues as the ED works to unravel the full extent of the alleged money laundering operations and those involved.