Bineesh to remain an accused in money laundering case; court rejects petition seeking release

BENGALURU: Bineesh Kodiyeri will remain an accused in the money laundering case, which is suspected to be related to drug case. The Bengaluru City Sessions Court rejected Bineesh's plea to drop him from the case. Bineesh, who served almost a year in jail in the case, was released on bail.

In August 2020, Kochi native Muhammad Anoop, Thiruvilwamala native Rijesh Ravindran and Kannada serial actress D Anikha were arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau. When Anoop was interrogated, hints about income tax evasion transactions and Bineesh's connections surfaced, prompting the ED to start an investigation. Bineesh became the fourth accused in the case. Bineesh testified that he was acquainted with Anoop and had no other relationship except that he had loaned him money to run a hotel in Bengaluru. However, Binesh was arrested after the clues of the money transactions were checked.

Bengaluru 34th Additional City Civil and Sessions Court rejected Bineesh's petition on the following grounds.

1. Bineesh gave a loan of Rs 40 lakh to Muhammad Anoop without any documents.
2. Bineesh did not try to recover the money he had lent even though Anoop was in debt.
3. Bineesh, Muhammad Anoop, a female friend and two others allegedly consumed cocaine at the party, according to a witness.
4. Another testimony that the two used cocaine in the royal suite apartment.

The court observed that Bineesh, who consumed drugs with Mohammad Anoop, must have been well aware of Anoop's business and bad habits. The court has doubts about Bineesh's involvement with Anoop Muhammad in the drug scandal. The court said that him not being accused in the drug case, does not mean that he cannot be accused in the money laundering case. With the court dismissing the petition for this reason, Bineesh will remain a defendant in the case.