A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to investigate 34 cases registered at various police stations across the State in connection with the alleged corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds scam and handed over to the State Crime Branch (CB).
The SIT will be headed by M.J. Sojan, Superintendent of Police, Crime Branch CU-II, Ernakulam under the supervision of the ADGP, Crime Branch. The 80-member SIT is constituted of officers from Economic Offence Wing, Crime Branch units, Crime Branch Central Units and the Cyber Division.
The cases being transferred to the Crime Branch include 11 each booked in Idukki and Ernakulam Rural, eight in Alappuzha, three in Kottayam, and one in Kannur town. The District Police Chiefs of Kottayam, Alappuzha, Idukki, Ernakulam Rural, and Kannur City have been directed to hand over the case file and related documents to ADGP, Crime Branch, immediately.
68 cases in Alappuzha
Many more cases have already been registered, with even more likely to be registered, across the State. These cases will also be handed over to the Crime Branch in due course. As many as 68 cases have been registered in Alappuzha, five in Kozhikode, and 35 in Ernakulam Rural. Several cases are being registered in different parts of the State.
Earlier in the day, State Police Chief Shaik Darvesh Saheb issued a circular transferring 34 cases, collectively accounting for ₹37 crore, to the State Crime Branch with immediate effect. The circular stated that the decision was taken considering the “sensational nature” of the scam and for ensuring an effective investigation and safeguarding the interests of the investors.
Bank accounts traced
Meanwhile, the Ernakulam Rural police returned the key accused Ananthu Krishnan to judicial custody on Monday after getting his custody for five days. The police traced his 19 bank accounts through which transactions worth over ₹500 crore were done over the last couple of years. Currently, these accounts collectively have only around ₹3.5 crore, the police said. Mr. Krishnan is the key accused in all cases registered by the Ernakulam Rural police, other than NGOs which had served as intermediaries for collecting the funds.
Meanwhile, an action committee of aggrieved investors has been formed in North Paravur where around 800-odd petitions have been filed. “We already have added 500-odd members based on the receipts of their complaints to our WhatsApp group. Even more are being added to the group. The idea is to streamline our future course of action,” said P.P. Arun, a member of the action committee. Already there were multiple groups of aggrieved investors, including those who are yet to lodge complaints, he said.
(With inputs from Kozhikode, Alappuzha and Kottayam bureaus)
Published – February 10, 2025 07:23 pm IST