Three Arrested So Far, ED Official Named Prime Accused
Kochi, May 17 – The Kerala Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) has booked a senior Enforcement Directorate (ED) officer in a corruption case following a businessman’s complaint of a multi-crore bribe demand.The ED officer, affiliated with the Kochi unit of the central agency, has been named the prime accused in the case, according to VACB sources. The complaint alleges that a bribe of ₹2 crore was solicited to prevent the businessman from being implicated in an ED investigation.
VACB has already arrested three individuals in connection with the case, including a chartered accountant based in Kochi, who was taken into custody on Saturday. The other two accused were arrested on Friday.
As per the remand report filed in court, the ED official is considered the central figure in the bribery scheme. The official is yet to be arrested.
S Sasidharan, Superintendent of VACB in Ernakulam, confirmed to reporters that the ED officer was booked based on the complainant's testimony.
“The complainant named the ED official directly in his complaint. Accordingly, he has been listed as the first accused in the FIR,” Sasidharan said. “A detailed investigation is underway and further verification is needed before drawing any conclusions.”
When asked about the strength of evidence against the ED officer, VACB officials remained cautious, stating that anyone specifically mentioned in a complaint could be booked, but declined to elaborate on the proof collected so far.
VACB also withheld further details citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.
