Kerala Opposition Leader Alleges Widespread Corruption in ED, Calls It Tool Against Political Opponents

V D Satheesan criticizes ED’s functioning after senior official booked in corruption case​

Kochi, May 18 — Kerala Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan on Sunday launched a scathing attack on the Enforcement Directorate (ED), alleging that a significant proportion of its officials were corrupt and that the agency has deviated from its intended purpose under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Satheesan’s remarks came in response to media queries regarding a senior ED official recently booked in a corruption case by the Kerala Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB).

ED accused of settling cases for crores using intermediaries​

The Congress leader claimed that ED officials were exploiting their authority by allegedly demanding large sums of money to settle cases.

“The ED sends notices to various people and then takes crores of money through intermediaries to settle the cases. These kinds of complaints exist across the country,” Satheesan alleged.

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He clarified that while he did not believe all ED officials were corrupt, he maintained that "a huge percentage" were involved in such practices.

ED not fulfilling mandate under PMLA, alleges Satheesan​

Criticizing the agency’s performance, Satheesan said:

“It is not doing the work it was set up for under the PMLA. Not even one per cent of its cases are solved. For a long time now, it has been used only for political vendettas.”

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He accused the central government of misusing the ED to target its political opponents, turning it into an instrument of harassment rather than a law enforcement body.

CPI(M)-BJP nexus claimed in Kerala​

Satheesan also alleged a political arrangement between the CPI(M) and BJP in Kerala, claiming that both parties were mutually settling corruption cases against each other. He said the recent developments involving the ED official were further proof of the agency’s compromised integrity.

ED official named in VACB corruption case​

According to the VACB, a senior ED officer from the Kochi unit has been booked as the primary accused in a corruption case following a businessman’s complaint. The case involves a bribe demand of Rs 2 crore to avoid being named in an ED case.

So far, three individuals — including a Kochi-based chartered accountant — have been arrested. While the other two were arrested on Friday, the accountant was taken into custody on Saturday. The ED official named as the key accused remains at large, as per VACB officials.

The case has sparked renewed scrutiny of the ED’s operations and fueled political controversy in Kerala.