Kerala Vigilance Charges ED Official in Corruption Case

A senior official of the Enforcement Directorate in Kerala has been booked by the Kerala Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau in a corruption case. The officer was named as the first accused based on a complaint from a businessman, who claimed he was offered a bribe of Rs 2 crore not to be arraigned in an ED case. Three others have already been arrested in connection with the case. A detailed investigation is ongoing.

Kerala's Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) has made significant strides in its ongoing investigation into a high-profile corruption case. The VACB has arrested a senior official from the Enforcement Directorate (ED), marking a significant development in the probe [1].

The case revolves around a Kollam-based businessman who was defrauded by a foreign client during the Covid-19 pandemic, leading to substantial financial losses. The businessman was summoned by the ED for investigation, but around the same time, a person named Wilson approached him, claiming to have influential contacts within the ED and offering to "settle" the case for a bribe of Rs 2 crore [2].

Wilson demanded the businessman pay the bribe in four equal instalments, and when the businessman received a second ED summons as predicted by Wilson, his suspicions were aroused. He subsequently alerted the VACB, which set up a sting operation to catch Wilson red-handed while collecting the cash. Wilson was apprehended, and further interrogation led to the arrest of two more individuals: Mukesh Jain and Kochi-based chartered accountant Renjith Warrier [1].

The VACB has now named ED Assistant Director Sekhar Kumar as the prime accused in the case, with the investigation focusing on the integrity of the ED's functioning in the state. The arrests have sparked concerns about the potential for corruption within the ED, and the probe is likely to have far-reaching implications [2].

The VACB is currently conducting a detailed investigation and is expected to submit a report to the court of the Vigilance Enquiry Commissioner and Special Judge, Kochi, in the near future. The arrests are part of the VACB's ongoing efforts to combat corruption and ensure the integrity of government agencies.

References:
[1] https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/vigilance-and-anti-corruption-bureau-arrests-chartered-accountant-in-ed-linked-bribery-trap-case-in-kerala/article69586571.ece
[2] https://www.thehansindia.com/news/national/kerala-vigilance-books-ed-official-as-prime-accused-in-alleged-graft-case-971935