Supplyco tea trade corruption case: ED attaches assets worth Rs 7.94 crore

KOCHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday attached movable and immovable assets worth Rs 7.94 crore belonging to Supplyco officials and a tea company in connection with the Supplyco tea trade corruption case. The properties are located in Ernakulam and Idukki districts.

The ED's action follows a case registered by the Thiruvananthapuram Vigilance Department under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The temporarily attached assets include those of Shelji George, Deputy General Manager of Supplyco's Tea Division, Ashok Bhandari, and the Idukki-based Haileyburia Tea Estates Company.

According to the ED's press release, the fraud was conducted by manipulating e-auctions. Shelji and Haileyburia Tea Estates colluded by submitting inflated tenders through dummy companies in the Tea Board's auction. Shelji made a decision to conduct transactions at rates higher than the market price, resulting in a loss of Rs 8.91 crore to Supplyco.