Sat May 17 07:43:55 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

A corruption case in Kerala has taken a surprising turn as the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) has implicated an Enforcement Directorate (ED) officer as the key accused. The case revolves around an attempt to solicit a ₹2 crore bribe from a businessman to allegedly shield him from ED scrutiny. Three individuals have been arrested, including a chartered accountant and a man suspected of hawala links. The businessman reported the bribe attempt to the VACB, leading to a sting operation and arrests. The ED officer’s involvement is based on the businessman’s statement, but further investigation is needed.

**News Article:**

**ED Officer Implicated in Bribery Scandal in Kerala**

**Kochi, May 17, 2025** – A major corruption scandal has erupted in Kerala, with the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) naming an Enforcement Directorate (ED) officer as the primary suspect in a bribery case. The case centers around an alleged attempt to extort ₹2 crore from a businessman in exchange for protection from an ED investigation.

The VACB has arrested three individuals in connection with the case: Wilson Varghese, Mukesh Kumar, and Ranjith Warrier, a chartered accountant. According to the VACB, Assistant Director Shekhar Kumar of the ED’s Kochi unit is the key accused.

The case originated from a complaint filed by a Kollam-based businessman who claimed he was summoned by the ED in 2024 regarding his company’s financial dealings. The businessman alleged that he was threatened with legal action and imprisonment unless he paid a substantial bribe. Wilson Varghese then contacted the businessman, offering to resolve the ED matter for ₹2 crore.

The businessman reported the attempted bribery to the VACB, which set up a sting operation. Wilson Varghese was apprehended on May 16 while accepting marked currency from the businessman. During interrogation, Varghese implicated Mukesh Kumar, who is suspected of having hawala connections and colluding with ED officials.

While Shekhar Kumar has been named as the key accused based on the businessman’s statement, the VACB has not yet arrested him, stating that further verification is required. The investigation is ongoing, and the VACB has seized mobile phones and bank account details as evidence. The accused face charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Section for criminal conspiracy. The case has raised serious questions about potential corruption within the ED and its operations in Kerala.

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