Provides facilities for TP case accused in jail; DIG M K Vinod Kumar found accepting bribe by vigilance

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The vigilance found DIG M K Vinod Kumar of the jail headquarters accepting bribes to provide facilities to the accused including Kodi Suni in the T P murder case. Vinod Kumar also stood to destroy the evidence of Suni's quotation. The vigilance also found that Rs 35 lakh reached Vinod's account and 40 lakh in his wife's account. The vigilance also found that Vinod Kumar illegally granted paroles after taking money.

The excise said Vinod Kumar received huge amount from TP case accused. The bribe was transferred to Vinod Kumar from the account of an aide who regularly visits Kodi Suni in jail. Another accused Annan Sijith called Vinod Kumar from the jail. After being released on parole, money was also transferred through Google Pay.

The DIG also took money to provide facilities to the accused who is presently in remand belonging to the quotation team in Kochi. He also accepted money from another accused serving jail term in a drug case. Vigilance has found that Rs 35 lakh has come to his account apart from his salary in just one month. An amount of Rs 40,80,000 came to Vinod Kumar's wife's account.

Vinod Kumar also received money through a retired officer of Viyyur Central Jail. The vigilance recorded his statement and the statement of another jail superintendent. R Sreelekha, who was the then jail chief of Viyyur Jail, asked Vinod Kumar, the then superintendent of Viyyur Jail, to seize the phone Suni used to call out of Viyyur Jail. However, instead of seizing the phone, Vinod Kumar hid the phone. The jail chief sought an explanation, but later, due to high pressure, further action was frozen. There were allegations earlier that Vinod Kumar destroyed the mainour due to the fact that many high-profile connections would be out. It is also reported that Vinod Kumar has close relations with CPM leaders in Alappuzha and Kannur.