Latest news with #ShekharKumar
Time of India
21 hours ago
- Time of India
ED bribery case: Kerala HC tells prosecution to produce case diary
Kochi: High court on Wednesday orally directed the prosecution to produce the case diary in the pre-arrest bail plea filed by Enforcement Directorate (ED) assistant director Shekhar Kumar, who is facing a vigilance case for allegedly demanding a Rs 2 crore bribe from a Kollam-based cashew businessman to derail an ED investigation. During hearing before the bench of Justice A Badharudeen, the public prosecutor sought additional time to obtain instructions from the state govt regarding the matter. Granting the request, HC adjourned the hearing to June 17 and extended the interim order restraining Kumar's arrest until then. The case originates from a complaint filed by cashew trader Aneesh Babu, who alleged that ED officials demanded a bribe to halt an investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The PMLA proceedings were initiated following a police case registered against Aneesh for allegedly cheating local traders by taking advance payments for imported cashew nuts and failing to deliver the goods. In his complaint, Aneesh alleged that two middlemen, Wilson Varghese and Mukesh Kumar, approached him on behalf of the ED officer and demanded Rs 2 crore to stop the ED probe. The vigilance department arrested both middlemen, who, during interrogation, allegedly named Shekhar Kumar, leading to his arraignment as the first accused in the case. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Kumar, in his plea, has denied any involvement and contended that there is no material linking him to the arrested individuals. He further claimed that he has been falsely implicated with ulterior motives and that the case is driven by vexatious intent.
The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
HC raps VACB for seeking repeated adjournment in ED official's bail plea
The Kerala High Court on Wednesday slammed the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) for repeatedly seeking adjournments on an anticipatory bail petition filed by Shekhar Kumar, Assistant Director of the Enforcement Directorate, in a case relating to the alleged demand of ₹2 crore as bribe from a Kollam-based cashew businessman to save him from an ED case. When the anticipatory bail petition came up for hearing, Justice A. Badharudeen orally observed that the petition seemed to have been filed on May 26, almost three weeks ago. Now the prosecution wanted to file an objection. 'How can an anticipatory bail plea be kept pending for several weeks, that too due to the lapses of the prosecution.' The court asked the VACB to file a statement, if any, on or before June 17 in response to the bail petition.
The Hindu
23-05-2025
- The Hindu
ED officer seeks anticipatory bail
Kochi A senior officer of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has moved the Kerala High Court seeking anticipatory bail after being named as first accused in a corruption case registered by the Kerala Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB). Shekhar Kumar (37) is currently serving as Assistant Director at the ED's Kochi office. In his bail application, Mr. Kumar claimed that he has been falsely implicated in the case. The charges against him fall under Section 7(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, which relates to taking undue advantage to influence a public servant through corrupt or illegal means or personal influence. He also faces a charge under Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, which deals with criminal conspiracy. The case stems from a complaint by a man linked to 'Vazhavila Cashews,' a cashew trading business in Kottarakara owned by his mother. The Enforcement Directorate had previously summoned the complainant and his parents in 2021 over allegations that they took large advance payments from local cashew traders but failed to deliver cashew imports as promised. The ED began investigating under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, following several police cases registered in different stations, with claims of fraud amounting to ₹24 crore. The complainant has now alleged that a second accused person told him to pay ₹2 crore to Mr. Kumar to avoid prosecution. He also claimed he was asked to pay ₹2 lakh on May 15, 2025. The FIR was filed based on these allegations. However, in his plea, Mr. Kumar argued that he is innocent and has no connection with the second accused.
The Hindu
19-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Meant to curb corruption, ED now caught up in it, says M.A. Baby
Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] General Secretary M.A. Baby has slammed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) over emerging allegations of corruption within its own ranks, calling it a case of the fence eating the crop. He said the agency, long accused of political misuse now faces damning evidence proving its own involvement in corrupt practices. 'The ED, which is supposed to prevent corruption, has itself turned corrupt. Everyone had earlier pointed to its political misuse and now concrete evidence has come out. Let the investigation continue and the facts come to light,' Mr. Baby told media in Kannur. His statement comes as the Vigilance department intensifies its probe into bribery case involving ED officials from the Kochi unit. Investigators are probing whether retired and transferred officers were part of a ₹2 crore bribe demand made to cashew businessman Aneesh Babu from Kottarakkara. ED assistant director Shekhar Kumar, the investigating officer in the high profile Kodakara hawala case, is among those under the scanner. Vigilance sources say that bank details and digital evidence point to the involvement of other senior officials at the Kochi ED office. Following this, notices will be issued to Mr. Shekhar Kumar and other for questioning. Recently, ED agents Wilson Varghese, Rajasthan native Murali Mukesh and chartered accountant Ranjith Warrier in connection with the case. The CPI(M) has consistently alleged that the ED is being weaponised to target political opponents. The latest revelations appear to bolster those claims, putting the spotlight back on institutional accountability within Central agencies.
