Karuvannur: Tree felling at site seized by ED; stopped by locals

THRISSUR: It is alleged that a tree standing on the land that belonged to AK Bijoy, accused in the Karuvannur bank fraud case, confiscated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was cut. The mango tree in the plot in Irinjalakuda Korimbussery which belonged to AK Bijoy, who was a commission agent of the bank, was cut down yesterday morning. Locals said that they could not see the remains of the tree which was cut the day before, so it might have been smuggled out. When the BJP workers of Irinjalakuda arrived and recorded the video after being informed by the people who were watching, the four workers stopped the tree-cutting and left the place. Yesterday too, locals intervened while workers were trimming the branches of the mango tree before cutting it.

Bijoy's father told the locals that the land was in his name and he did not know that this plot was also included in the property confiscation by the ED. The locals allege that the trees were cut by concealing the confiscation information. 30 crore worth of Bijoy's property was seized by ED earlier. After the fraud came to light, Bijoy was arrested by the crime branch which initially investigated the case, but he was released on bail. Bijoy was questioned several times by the ED.

An investigation is required

BJP Irinjalakuda constituency president Kripesh Chemmanda demanded a high-level inquiry and punishment of the culprits in the case of cutting down the tree from the house plot of Bijoy, one of the main accused in the 346 crore fraud case of Karuvannur Bank.