Bribery case: Delay in taking action against jail DIG Vinod Kumar, accused of being under top security

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Action against DIG M K Vinod Kumar, an accused in the vigilance case, is being delayed. No further action has been taken yet on the director's report containing serious findings against the officer. The initial information that came out was that action including suspension would be taken. Unconfirmed reports said the SP and DySP are protecting Vinod Kumar.

The vigilance registered a case against Vinod Kumar on December 17. The vigilance found that the DIG had taken money to grant parole to criminals and to provide facilities in the jail. The case was registered following that. It has also been found that the DIG at the jail headquarters had taken bribes to provide comforts in the jail to the accused in the TP case, including Kodi Suni. Vinod Kumar also helped destroy evidence of Suni's quotation. The vigilance found that Rs 35 lakh had been deposited in Vinod's account in one month and Rs 40 lakh in his wife's account. Vigilance has also found that Vinod Kumar has illegally granted paroles after taking money.

Vigilance said Vinod Kumar has taken a large amount of money from the accused in the TP case. The bribe was handed over to Vinod Kumar from the account of an associate who regularly visits Kodi Suni in jail. Another accused, Annan Sijith, called Vinod Kumar from jail. After he was released on parole, the money was also transferred through Google Pay.

The DIG also took money to facilitate an accused who is currently on remand and is a member of the quotation gang in Kochi. He took money from another accused who is serving a prison sentence in a drug case. Vigilance has found that Rs 35 lakh has been deposited in the account without salary in just one month. Rs 40,80,000 has been deposited in the account of Vinod Kumar's wife.