KOCHI: "I thought I lost the money.... I don't know what to say... Thanks to the ED and the lawyers.'... The words of Priya Gerald, the mother of the student from Aryanad, Thiruvananthapuram, who was a victim of the Karanakonam Medical College admission bribery case, were filled with gratitude. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has returned the money to six people including them. Two more are yet to apply.

Priya had paid Rs 35 lakh for her daughter's admission. The accused had earlier returned Rs 27 lakh. The ED handed over a cheque for Rs 8 lakh. Erode native Tamilazaras, Karakonam native Stanley Raju, Kollam Kulathupuzha native Rajan Prasad, Nagercoil native Paul Selvakumar, and Nargercoil native Ingudas also received money. A total of Rs 89.75 lakh was handed over to them. The amount was handed over by ED Deputy Directors S Simi, P Radhakrishnan, P Vinod Kumar and Special Prosecutor MJ Santhosh.

The case involves the failure to provide medical seats to 28 students despite receiving Rs 7.22 crore from their parents. After the Crime Branch registered a case, the accused tried to settle the case by returning the money, but they were unable to return the entire amount. The ED later confiscated Rs 95 lakh. The chargesheet was filed in May last year. Four people, including former CSI Moderator and Bishop of South Kerala Diocese Dharmaraj Rasalam and Bennett Abraham, are accused.

The ED has handed over the cheque to the victims on the condition that the money will be returned if the verdict is in favour of the accused. The High Court is considering a petition filed by Dharmaraj Rasalam seeking quashing of the ED case.

"It is the responsibility of the ED to return the money lost by the victims in the money laundering case. Those who approach the court will get their money back."

- S Simi,

Deputy Director,

ED Kochi Unit