Latest news with #ShekharKumar
Time of India
6 days ago
- Time of India
Bribery case: Kerala HC extends order restraining arrest of ED officer
Kochi: HC on Tuesday extended for two more weeks its earlier interim order restraining the arrest of Shekhar Kumar, assistant director of Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Kochi, who is facing a vigilance case for allegedly demanding Rs 2 crore bribe from a Kollam-based cashew trader to derail a money laundering probe. Justice A Badharudeen is considering Kumar's pre-arrest bail plea. The state govt sought additional time to file its reply, citing the need to analyse digital data retrieved from the mobile phones of other accused, which had been sent for forensic examination. Granting the request, HC adjourned the matter to July 3. The case stems from a complaint filed by Aneesh Babu, a Kollam-based cashew businessman, who alleged that ED officials demanded a bribe to halt proceedings under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The PMLA investigation followed a police case accusing Aneesh of cheating local traders by taking advance payments for imported cashew nuts without supplying the goods. According to the complaint, two middlemen, Wilson Varghese and Mukesh Kumar, approached Aneesh on behalf of the ED officer and demanded Rs 2 crore to drop the investigation. The vigilance officials arrested both middlemen, who, during interrogation, allegedly implicated Shekhar Kumar, leading to his arraignment as the first accused. In a related development, Justice Kauser Edappagath on Tuesday closed the pre-arrest bail plea filed by Aneesh Babu in the PMLA case. The ED submitted that Babu had only been summoned as an informer and that there was no intent to arrest him. The court, recording the submission, closed his petition.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- The Hindu
HC restrains arrest of ED official for 2 more weeks
The Kerala High Court has extended by two more weeks its earlier interim order restraining the arrest of Shekhar Kumar, Assistant Director of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Kochi, who is facing a Vigilance case on the charge of demanding ₹2 crore from a cashew trader in Kollam in connection with a money laundering probe. Mr. Kumar had submitted a pre-arrest bail plea in this regard. On its part, the State government cited the need to analyse digital data retrieved from the mobile phones of the other accused. The court adjourned the matter to July 3. The case relates to a complaint filed by Aneesh Babu, a cashew businessman, who alleged that ED official demanded a bribe to halt proceedings against him under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Time of India
11-06-2025
- 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
11-06-2025
- 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.
