MK Vinodkumar bribery: Political protection helped jail DIG collect crores of rupees

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Political protection helped DIG M.K. Vinodkumar, who collected crores of rupees from prisoners and prison officials. Vigilance has found that Rs. 75 lakhs reached the accounts of the DIG and his wife in a month. Vigilance has found evidence that the DIG took money from prisoners including Kodi Suni and Annan Sijith of the TP case. The file to suspend him is before the Chief Minister, following the Vigilance registering a case.

The DIG was supported by political protection despite being involved in cases and being suspended twice. He was a leftist organization leader in the KSFE. Later, he joined the prison service as an assistant superintendent. He is a native of Alappuzha Aroor. His closeness to leaders in Alappuzha and Kannur also helped him. The prison chief had forbidden him from taking any important decision as complaints were frequently made against him. Six months ago, he was summoned to the Chief Minister's office and warned. He escaped by pleading that he had only months left to retire. Despite knowing the details of the bribery earlier, he was not transferred from the prison headquarters because of political protection.

The police had received information that Kodi Suni was plotting gold smuggling and quotation work from Viyyur jail. The then jail superintendent Vinod ignored the order of the then jail in charge to seize the phone used by Suni. Vinod destroyed the phone without seizing it. The jail in charge sought an explanation, but no further action was taken. Vigilance found that Vinod had taken lakhs of rupees in bribes to provide facilities to the prisoners, including phone calls, premium food from outside, alcohol, drugs including ganja, cigarettes-bidis, SIM cards and batteries. Huge sums were taken to grant parole and extend the period. Even natural paroles granted on the recommendation of the jail superintendent were made means to take money.

It has been found that Sijith called the DIG from jail and handed over the money immediately after being released on parole. It has also been found that money was received from the account of Kodi Suni's associate. The money was collected by threatening to transfer the prison officials. Even the sub-jail superintendent of the southern district gave lakhs. The money was collected using a retired officer from Viyyur as an intermediary. Money was taken from prisoners in drug cases.

Fraud in medicinal plant cultivation too

📜All the investigation reports and complaints against the DIG were shelved without taking any action. The report submitted by the Central Zone Prison DIG in April 2023 citing corruption and bribery was also ignored.

📜The Vigilance Director had reported in 2020 that there was financial irregularities in the medicinal plant cultivation project implemented when he was the Superintendent of Viyyur Central Jail, and that Rs 2.31 lakh should be recovered, but the money was not recovered.

📜The Central Zone DIG reported that the DIG at the prison headquarters was travelling up to 250 km in official vehicle to visit prisons in other zones for corruption, but no action was taken. Although information was received that bribes were taken from officials for transfer, no action was taken.