Kochi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has stated in the court that an MLA and a former MP has connections with the prime accused in the Karuvannur bank scam. The accused is also said to be sharing good relations with a high ranked police officer. He has carried out financial transactions of up to Rs 500 crores. The ED also said that the witnesses in the case are being threatened by the highly influential people involved in the case.

The enforcement directorate shared the details when the prime and second accused, P Satheesh Kumar and PP Kiran, both Thrissur natives, were produced in the court. The special court for financial crimes sent the accused on remand until September 19. 

The investigation team submitted the testimony of CPM member K A Jejor who had functioned as the middleman for Satheesh Kumar’s financial transactions. 

However, ED has so far not revealed the identities of several other politicians and police officers who were involved in the scam. But it is known that Jejor has handed over the list of the people involved in the fraud with proof. The CPM member has also apparently confessed that around Rs 3 crores were handed over to parties in three different bags in his presence, through fraudulent means.   

Another witness in the case, PK Biju has also testified that money was distributed as part of the scam on his behalf. He also confirmed the presence of Jejor and representatives of local self government institutions PR Aravindakshan and Madhu during the occasions.

The ED also accused Satheesh Kumar of giving them incorrect information. For example, Satheesh had earlier told the investigating officers that the chartered accountant possessed all the proofs related to the transactions, however, the accountant has denied Satheesh’s claims.