The Kerala High Court has temporarily stayed the arrest of Enforcement Directorate (ED) Assistant Director Shekhar Kumar until June 11. This ruling follows allegations presented by businessman Aneesh Babu, who asserts that Kumar solicited a substantial bribe of ₹2 crore to dismiss a critical money laundering investigation targeting Babu himself.
Businessman Claims Bribe Demand to Halt ED Probe
Aneesh Babu, who operates the Kollam-based cashew trading firm ‘Vazhavila Cashews,’ has brought forth serious accusations against ED Assistant Director Shekhar Kumar. Babu claims that Kumar, utilising intermediaries, demanded a bribe of ₹2 crore as a means to suppress a comprehensive probe into alleged money laundering activities connected to Babu’s business practices. The intermediaries — identified as Wilson Varghese and Mukesh Kumar — are alleged to have approached Babu with the intent to negotiate this bribe, framing it as an opportunity to halt the investigation. In a significant development, the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) has arrested these intermediaries, who, under rigorous interrogation, reportedly implicated Kumar.
High Court Grants Interim Relief to ED Official
Amidst a flurry of legal manoeuvres, the Kerala High Court convened on June 2 to hear Kumar’s anticipatory bail plea. During this session, Justice P.G. Ajithkumar delivered a notable interim order, effectively halting Kumar’s arrest until June 11. The Public Prosecutor, seeking additional time to thoroughly evaluate the gravity of the allegations, assured the court that no arrest would transpire before the next hearing.
ED Claims Complaint is a Diversion Tactic
In a strategic response, the ED has vigorously challenged the validity of Babu’s claims, suggesting that his bribery allegations are, in fact, a tactical manoeuvre designed to distract from the ongoing investigation into his financial irregularities. Babu is currently under scrutiny for orchestrating a fraudulent scheme that allegedly defrauded investors of approximately ₹24.73 crore. This scheme was centred around promises of cashew imports at below-market prices, which Babu purportedly failed to fulfil. The ED maintains that Babu’s allegations against Kumar are an attempt to evade the impending legal consequences of his activities.
About the Author – Anirudh Mittal is a B.Sc. LL.B. (Hons.) student at National Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar, with a keen interest in corporate law and tech-driven legal change.