Bribes for jail privileges, parole: Kerala Vigilance books Jail DIG; Kodi Suni among beneficiaries

Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) has registered a case against Jail DIG after allegations emerged that money was collected to provide special facilities to inmates, including TP Chandrasekharan murder case convict Kodi Suni, and to secure parole through favourable reports.

The case has been registered against MK Vinod Kumar, who is currently posted as DIG at the jail headquarters. The investigation has been handed over to Vigilance Special Investigation Unit–I, following a probe initiated on the basis of intelligence inputs.

According to vigilance officials, preliminary inquiries revealed that Vinod Kumar allegedly accepted money from relatives of prisoners to arrange special privileges inside jails. The allegations include providing facilities to convicts involved in political murders and drug-related cases.

Investigators found that after collecting money, favourable reports were allegedly prepared to facilitate the granting of parole. A retired prison official from Viyyur jail is said to have acted as an intermediary in the transactions. Evidence has also surfaced indicating that payments were received through Google Pay.

The Vigilance Director is expected to submit a report to the state government in the coming days, recommending Vinod Kumar’s suspension.