The Ernakulam Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) arrested two persons on charge of attempting to cheat a Kollam-based businessman by demanding ₹2 crore for getting him off the radar of the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
The arrested are Wilson of Thammanam and Mukesh Jain aka Murali from Rajasthan. Wilson was arrested while accepting ₹2 lakh from the businessman at Panamppilly Nagar. Mukesh was arrested based on information elicited from Wilson.
“Mukesh Jain is suspected to have hawala links. He was the one who arranged bank accounts outside Kerala in which the businessman was asked to deposit ₹2 crore in four lots of ₹50 lakh each,” said VACB sources.
The businessman, who was into exporting cashew to an African nation, reportedly hit hard times during the pandemic when he claimed to have been cheated by an African native. Shortly, the ED launched an inquiry, and he was summoned for interrogation. However, it is not known whether the ED has registered a case against him.
“It was at that point that Wilson contacted him and offered to take him off the ED’s radar. He was asked to wire ₹2 crore to different bank accounts outside the State. Later, Wilson asked him for ₹2 lakh in liquid cash,” said the VACB sources.
It was then that the businessman approached the VACB. Initially, at the instance of the enforcement agency, he deposited ₹50,000 instead of ₹2 lakh in an account to track it whenever it was withdrawn. However, it was never withdrawn, and Wilson demanded to be paid in cash.
The accused were booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act Section 7A (attempt to influence a public servant, either directly or indirectly, by offering or accepting undue advantages to induce improper or dishonest performance of a public duty) and the Bharatiya Nyaya Section 61(2) (criminal conspiracy). The accused were produced in court and remanded in judicial custody.
Published – May 17, 2025 01:59 am IST
