Another setback for ED: Karnataka HC stays trial proceedings against Bineesh Kodiyeri

Bengaluru: In another setback to Enforcement Directorate (ED), Karnataka High Court stayed proceedings before a trial court here against Bineesh Kodiyeri, son of former CPM State Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, in connection with a money laundering case. The court also expressed doubt about whether the ED’s case against  Bineesh will sustain.

The court earlier found that Bineesh cannot be named as an accused in a drug case slapped by ED. Following this, Bineesh approached the trial court and cited that the money laundering case too will not sustain. However, the trial court dismissed his petition. Bineesh then approached HC and development is part of that. HC’s ruling comes as a major relief to Bineesh.

Bineesh was arrested on October 29, 2020, in a drug deal-money laundering case filed by ED. Karnataka HC affirmed that the investigation agency could not procure any evidence against Bineesh in connection with the drug deal case. Though the prosecution claimed that Bineesh had funded the drug deals of Muhammad Anoop, who was arrested in the drug-dealing case, the court specified that Bineesh cannot be tagged as an accused. The court also rejected the allegation that Bineesh could be involved in related crimes if let out on bail.