Kochi: A senior official of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) Kochi office has come under the scanner of the Vigilance Department. The Assistant Director of the ED Kochi unit, Shekhar Kumar, has been named the first accused in a case where a bribe of ₹2 crore was allegedly demanded to drop a case against a cashew businessman from Kollam. The Vigilance Department has submitted a report to the Vigilance Court listing him as the prime accused.

On Friday, the Vigilance arrested two agents while they were accepting ₹2 lakh as part of the bribe. Based on their interrogation, the investigation led to the involvement of a senior ED official, resulting in the arrest of three persons, including a chartered accountant and the agents.

The arrested have been identified as Wilson (36) of Vattathundil, Thammanam — named the second accused — and Mukesh Kumar (55), a native of Takhatgarh, Rajasthan — the third accused. On Saturday, the Vigilance arrested Ranjith, a chartered accountant residing on Warriam Road in Kochi, who acted as an intermediary. He has been named the fourth accused.

According to the Vigilance, Ranjith is the key conspirator in the case, having shared confidential information from the ED Kochi office with the agents and attempted to extort ₹2 crore from the complainant. The second and third accused have been remanded by the Vigilance Court in Muvattupuzha. Ranjith has been sent to Vigilance custody.