In a significant development, the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) has registered a corruption case involving a staggering Rs 2 crore bribery demand, naming an Enforcement Directorate (ED) officer as the prime accused. The case has triggered political ripples, with the ruling CPI(M) in Kerala accusing the Centre of misusing central agencies for partisan interests.
According to the VACB report, Shekhar Kumar, Assistant Director of the ED, has been identified as the first accused. Others named in the case include Ernakulam-based Wilson Varghese, Rajasthan native Mukesh Kumar, and Kochi-based chartered accountant Ranjith Warrier.
The case stems from a complaint filed by a Kollam-based businessman who was under ED investigation for allegedly falsifying financial documents to misstate turnover and siphon funds abroad. The ED had initiated inquiries in 2024, summoning the businessman to produce historical financial records or face legal action.
Soon after, Wilson Varghese allegedly contacted the businessman, claiming to have direct access to ED officials. He reportedly demanded Rs 2 crore to stall further investigation, even promising to engineer a follow-up summons from the ED to prove his connections. The businessman did receive another notice in May 2025, raising suspicions of internal collusion.
As part of the alleged extortion scheme, Wilson directed the businessman to transfer Rs 50 lakh to a private bank account in Mumbai in four installments, along with Rs 2 lakh in cash and an additional Rs 50,000 via bank transfer.
Concerned by the escalating demands, the businessman alerted the VACB, which swiftly launched a sting operation. Wilson was apprehended while accepting the money.
Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of Mukesh Kumar and Ranjith Warrier. Warrier is accused of leaking the businessman’s confidential details to Wilson, facilitating the bribery demand.
The case has taken on political overtones, with the CPI(M) State Secretariat issuing a strong statement against the Centre. “The ED, which has repeatedly been weaponised by the BJP to target political rivals, is now embroiled in a corruption scandal of its own,” the statement read.
As the investigation continues, the case has cast a shadow over the credibility of central enforcement agencies and reignited debates over their political neutrality and accountability.
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