The Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a chargesheet on Wednesday (18 September 2024) against expelled DMK member Jaffer Sadiq, his bestie Dravidianist actor-director Ameer, and others in a money laundering case connected to drug activities.
The chargesheet, submitted to the Principal Sessions Court, named 12 individuals, including Sadiq’s wife and brother. The court has yet to officially register the chargesheet.
This development comes shortly after ED’s Chennai office provisionally seized assets worth Rs 55.30 crore belonging to Sadiq and his associates under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
The ED’s investigation followed Sadiq’s expulsion from the DMK after his arrest by the Narcotics Control Bureau for allegedly heading a drug cartel involved in smuggling pseudoephedrine and ketamine. The probe revealed that Sadiq, along with his brother Mohammed Saleem and others, was involved in the export and concealment of narcotics. Mohammed Saleem, the now-expelled VCK functionary admitted to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) that they engaged in drug smuggling under Sadiq’s direction. This admission follows Saleem’s arrest by the ED on 13 August 2024 regarding the high-profile drug smuggling and money laundering case.
Sadiq, previously associated with the DMK, is imprisoned in Puzhal Jail over charges related to drug trafficking and illegal money transfers. Mohammed Saleem, who was a member of the VCK, was taken into custody by the ED and is undergoing a seven-day interrogation concerning drug smuggling and money laundering operations.
According to the ED, Sadiq and his associates used various firms and entities to launder the proceeds from drug trafficking.
It is important to remember that Ameer had initally tried to wash his hands off of Sadiq by claiming that he was unaware of Sadiq’s “other face” and also stated that the shooting of the film Iraivan Miga Periyavan was halted abruptly following the news of the ₹2000 crore drug bust.
Ameer on 1 March 2024 shared a video of his in which he tried to establish is Muslim identity in an attempt to play victim card and tried to distance himself away from Jaffer Sadiq and the drug bust.
However, during launch function of his now abandoned film “Iraivan Miga Periyavan” in February 2022, Ameer is seen saying Jaffer Sadiq is a distant relative of his. He also mentions that Sadiq had been requesting Ameer to direct a film under his banner for 5 years.
Another video surfaced on social media platform X where Ameer is seen wishing all success to Jaffer Sadiq. He says, “I have been closely watching his meteoric rise in all businesses he has begun. I pray he achieves success with this film (production business) Iraivan Miga Periyavan too.”
It is noteworthy that he addresses Sadiq as “thambi” and Sadiq addresses Ameer as “Anna”.
Director Ameer explains who is Drug Lord Jaffar Sadiq to him.
He also says he wishes Jaffar all success in “all his businesses” #Drug_Mafia_Kazhagam pic.twitter.com/xZEdHH7Eyi
— Savukku Shankar (@SavukkuOfficial) March 2, 2024
Director Ameer and Jaffer Sadiq opened a coffee shop called 4AM Coffee and Kitchen under the Mahyan Pvt Ltd company, located at ECR near Chennai. The organization’s managing director, Abdul Basith, is also a director at Zuko Overseas Pvt Ltd alongside Jaffer Sadiq. Notably, Ameer, also known as Ameer Sulthan, is a director of Zuko Overseas Pvt Ltd as well.
Director Vetrimaran and actor Soori attended the launch of the coffee shop. Another establishment, Law Cafe, was opened at Radhakrishnan Salai under the Mahyan Group of Companies, which Ameer and Sadiq run.
Ameer, Vetrimaran, and Jaffer Sadiq have often been seen together in photographs, highlighting the close connections between directors and so-called producers in the Tamil film industry.
Some of the films produced by Jaffer Sadiq include Ameer’s Iraivan Miga Periyavan, Mangai, and Indira, all under the JSM Pictures banner. Interestingly, Sadiq’s social media cover photo features four posters, including these three films and another called Maayavalai, which is produced by Ameer’s production house and co-produced by Vetrimaran’s Grass Root Film alongside Sadiq.
It is noteworthy that DMK Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin’s wife Kiruthiga Udhayanidhi was the chief guest at the launch of a single from the film Mangai.
Sadiq is also associated with the Saleem Bhai Biriyani chain, which Ameer inaugurated. In media interactions, Ameer has mentioned that the biriyani shop is one of Sadiq’s business ventures.
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