Should PM Modi Act to Rebuild the ED's Trustworthiness?

Kozhikode, May 20 (NationPress) The Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan, on Tuesday called upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take action aimed at restoring the credibility of the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

This appeal arose during a media interaction following the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) by the state Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB), which named an ED official as the main suspect in a significant alleged corruption case that has already led to three arrests.

“Previously, doubts regarding the functioning of the ED have been prevalent, but with the emergence of new evidence, it is essential for the PM to step in. His involvement is crucial to restore the ED's credibility,” he stated, noting that even a bishop had voiced concerns over the ED's operations.

The VACB has apprehended three individuals, including chartered accountant Ranjith Warrier, middleman Wilson, and Mukesh Jain, a Rajasthan native who has resided in Kochi for an extended period.

In this case, the VACB has identified ED Assistant Director Sekhar Kumar, who works at the Kochi office, as the primary accused.

The investigation revolves around a businessman from Kollam involved in cashew exports to an African nation, who allegedly incurred substantial financial losses during the Covid-19 pandemic due to fraud by a foreign client.

This situation prompted an investigation by the ED, during which the businessman received a summons.

At this point, Wilson reportedly approached the businessman, asserting that he had strong connections within the ED and could assist in “settling” the case.

Wilson demanded Rs 2 crore to be paid in four equal installments, assuring that the ED inquiry would be terminated.

Shortly after, the businessman received a second ED summons, just as Wilson had predicted, which raised suspicions.

When Wilson later requested Rs 2 lakh in cash, the businessman notified VACB officials.

To gather evidence, the businessman was advised to transfer the cash and also make a bank payment, allowing officials to trace the funds.

Wilson was apprehended in the act of collecting the cash and was subsequently taken into custody.

The VACB later arrested Jain and Warrier.

Currently, the VACB possesses incriminating documents retrieved from Warrier that implicate the ED official.

Notably, Vijayan's criticisms of the ED occur at a time when his daughter Veena Vijayan and her now-defunct IT firm, Exalogic, are under scrutiny by agencies such as the ED and the SFIO.