Cashew scam case: ED begins proceedings to arrest accused

KOCHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has begun proceedings to arrest Aneesh Babu, a native of Kottarakkara and an accused in a cashew scam case, who had alleged that an ED officer demanded Rs 2 crore to settle the case. After the Supreme Court rejected his anticipatory bail plea, the ED’s Kochi office has issued alerts to airports to prevent him from leaving the country.

The case involves a fraud committed by promising to import cashew nuts through the Vazhavil Cashews company. According to the ED, black money transactions worth Rs 24.73 crore were carried out. Aneesh’s father, Babu George, and mother, Anitha, are also accused in the case.

The ED filed the case in March 2001 after receiving five linked complaints. According to the agency, although Aneesh finally appeared on October 28, 2024, he went out for lunch and never came back. Since he has not cooperated with the probe, investigators say they still do not know how he used the money obtained through the scam.

Rs 2-crore bribe allegation
Aneesh had complained to the Vigilance Department that Shekhar Kumar, a former Assistant Director at ED Kochi, demanded a Rs 2-crore bribe to close the case. He alleged that the demand was made through intermediaries after the summons was issued. Vigilance Special Cell SP S. Sasidharan questioned Shekhar Kumar for two days last July. He was later transferred by the ED to North India.