Businessman Who Accused ED Officer Of Bribery Gets ED Summons; Kerala High Court Stays His Arrest

The Kerala High Court on Thursday (29^th May) directed not to arrest the businessman, Aneesh Babu who raised allegation of bribery against the Assistant Director of the Enforcement Directorate, Ernakulam Office. Justice Kauser Edappagath has posted the case after a week.

The petitioner stated that after he registered the vigilance case against the Enforcement Officer, he has got a summons from the Delhi ED office. As per the notice, he was asked to bring all the documents relating to the Vigilance Case. It is further mentioned in the notice that failure to appear and give evidence will lead to proceedings under Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 and other provisions of BNS, 2023. The court has issued a direction not to arrest in this matter.

Background of the Case

Certain cases were filed against the petitioner and his parents in 2020 and 2021 after the company, Vazhavila Cashews, registered in the petitioner's mother name could not fulfil a contract entered into with certain persons regarding supply of imported cashews. As per the petitioner, this occurred as an export ban was imposed in Tanzania after he entered into an agreement with a society in Tanzania. He said that he had paid the society 2.5 million dollars which he lost after the ban. The petitioner stated even after that, they supplied a part of the promised quantity by suffering a huge financial loss.

Subsequently, ED filed a case against the petitioner and his parents under Section 3 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in 2021. The petitioner and his parents were called to the office. As per the petitioner, thereafter from 2021 to 2024, there was no communication. On October 2024, the petitioner was called to the office and was threatened with arrest if all the documents relating to the alleged diversion were not produced.

As per the petitioner, he filed the Vigilance case after a person named Wilson Varghese, who claimed to be sent by the ED officer and demanded a bribe of Rs. 2 Crore to settle the case. As per the allegation, to prove his credentials Wilson told the petitioner that he would receive a notice from ED to appear before it on 14^th May. Subsequently, petitioner states, he received an email and a phone from ED office asking him to appear before them. The Vigilance officers laid a trap and caught Wilson while he accepted an amount of Rs. 2 Lakh as a part payment towards the total amount.

As of now, Vigilance has registered a case against 4 people including the Assistant Director. The Assistant Director of ED has approached the High Court seeking bail.

Case Title: Aneesh Babu v Assistant Director

Case No: BA 7121/ 2025