Latest news with #AneeshBabu
Deccan Herald
19 hours ago
- Business
- Deccan Herald
Kerala businessman 'fails' to give evidence in 'bribery' case against ED officer: Sources
The businessman, Aneesh Babu, deposed before the Enforcement Directorate in Delhi on June 6 and his statement was recorded under audio-visual enabled camera by the agency as per the provisions of section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Time of India
Complainant summoned in VACB case against ED official in Kerala
Kochi: The enforcement directorate (ED) has summoned the complainant in the vigilance case in which an ED official was made an accused as part of an inquiry. Sources said ED's special task force (STF) summoned Aneesh Babu, the complainant. He has been directed to appear before ED at its headquarters in New Delhi on Friday, sources said. Vigilance and anti-corruption bureau (VACB) had booked an assistant director with ED's Kochi unit following Babu's complaint. Three other persons were arrested in connection with the allegations. Sources said the summons was issued by ED STF assistant director Mohit Godara. Babu has been instructed to produce his identity card and a copy of the FIR registered by the VACB. ED assistant director Shekar Kumar was named as accused in the vigilance FIR based on his complaint. Babu told reporters that he was unaware of the exact reason for the summons, even as sources said the STF was conducting an independent inquiry into the ED cases against Babu. The bribery allegations surfaced during an ED investigation against Babu under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The ED was carrying out the PMLA investigation based on five FIRs registered by Kerala Police against Babu for allegedly defrauding individuals of Rs 24.73 crore. Even as the ED investigation was progressing, Babu approached the VACB with a complaint that a bribe was demanded from him, offering to 'settle' the case against him.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Time of India
Bribery allegation: ED official moves Kerala high court seeking anticipatory bail
Kochi: Sekhar Kumar, assistant director of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Kochi, has approached high court seeking anticipatory bail in a vigilance case alleging that he demanded a bribe of Rs 2 crore from a Kollam-based cashew businessman to evade an ED investigation. The petition is scheduled to be considered by the court next week. Previously, the police had registered a case against Aneesh Babu, a cashew businessman, alleging that he, along with his parents — who were partners in his business firm — had collected advance payments from local cashew traders, promising to supply cashew nuts from abroad at rates lower than prevailing international prices, but failed to deliver, thereby cheating them. Subsequently, the ED proceeded against Aneesh Babu and his family based on the FIR registered by the police, invoking scheduled offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Later, a middleman named Wilson Varghese allegedly contacted Aneesh Babu and demanded Rs 2 crore to halt the investigation. Aneesh then approached vigilance officials with a complaint against ED officials, which led to the arrest of middlemen, Wilson and Mukesh Kumar, in the alleged bribery case. Both accused named Sekhar Kumar, resulting in him being arrayed as the first accused in the case. Meanwhile, Sekhar Kumar approached HC, contending that there is no evidence linking him to the arrested individuals and that he has been falsely implicated with ulterior motives and vexatious intent. He also alleged that Aneesh Babu, the de facto complainant, is attempting to escape prosecution initiated by ED through false accusations. Sekhar Kumar further stated that five separate criminal cases had been registered against Aneesh Babu at different police stations by various complainants, collectively alleging that he siphoned off approximately Rs 24 crore. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Brother's Day wishes , messages and quotes !
New Indian Express
20-05-2025
- New Indian Express
Bribery accusations by Kerala businessman baseless, says ED
KOCHI: The Enforcement Directorate has dismissed bribery allegations made by Kollam-based businessman Aneesh Babu against officers of the central agency, saying the complainant, who is under investigation for money laundering, is attempting to 'malign the image' of the ED through a 'media trial'. 'The allegations made by Aneesh are an attempt to trigger a media trial with the intent to malign the image of the Directorate of Enforcement. The allegations made are contradictory and propagated through media platforms to prejudice local public opinion,' the ED stated. Instead of complying with the summons, Aneesh approached the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) with certain allegations, and he changed the name of the ED officer over time, clearly revealing his intent to mislead and defame officers, the agency said. VACB had named an assistant director of ED's Kochi unit as the first accused in a bribery allegation involving the extortion of allegedly Rs 2 crore from a businessman in exchange for halting an ED investigation. On Saturday, the VACB's Kochi unit arrested Renjith Warrier, a Kochi-based chartered accountant, following the earlier arrest of two other accused. Commenting on VACB's investigation, ED officers said the central agency remains committed to upholding the rule of law.
India Today
19-05-2025
- Business
- India Today
ED denies graft charge by Kerala cashew scam accused, calls it 'diversion tactic'
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has rejected allegations made by a suspect in a major money laundering case, describing them as a diversionary tactic aimed at "maligning" the central agency, official sources told India Today TV on Monday. The case involved businessman Aneesh Babu and centres on alleged financial fraud and money laundering through the Kerala-based company Vazhavila ED probe, launched in March 2021, stemmed from five FIRs registered by the Crime Branch and Kottarakara police. These FIRs accused Aneesh Babu, along with his parents Babu George and Anitha Babu, of cheating several individuals out of Rs 24.73 crore under the guise of importing cashew nuts at reduced FIRs invoked multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including criminal breach of trust, cheating, conspiracy, forgery and the use of forged repeated summonses, Aneesh Babu failed to cooperate with the investigation, ED sources said, adding he was first summoned in October 2021 but did not notices were issued for October 8, 2024, and although Aneesh Babu and his family did turn up at the ED office on October 28 that year, officials alleged they left for lunch and never returned. Since then, Aneesh Babu allegedly remained non-compliant and did not submit the required documents, they the accused filed a complaint with the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) in Ernakulam, claiming that an ED official demanded money to settle the case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).advertisementThe timing of this complaint has raised eyebrows, coming just after the Supreme Court dismissed his plea on March 17, 2025, which had challenged the Kerala High Court's rejection of his anticipatory bail sources dismissed the bribery allegations as part of a "larger effort to malign the central agency and derail the investigation". They point to inconsistencies in the suspect's public statements - citing a recent instance on May 18 when Aneesh Babu named different ED officers in separate interviews on the same described it as a clear attempt to manipulate public perception and engineer a media narrative favourable to the its zero-tolerance stance on corruption, the ED said it welcomed any fair and impartial inquiry into the allegations. The agency is reportedly seeking full details of the VACB complaint to determine if any prima facie case exists, and asserted that it will act "without fear or favour" should credible evidence ED maintained that its focus remains firmly on unravelling the Rs 24.73 crore financial fraud and bringing the perpetrators to justice, regardless of what it calls a "media trial" being waged by the Watch IN THIS STORY#Kerala
