Ebrahim Kunju (left) Gireesh Babu (right)
Kochi: Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau is interrogating former PWD Minister V K Ebrahim Kunju in connection with money laundering case. The quizzing is progressing at the Ernakulam rest house now.
Complainant Gireesh Babu had filed a petition on May 20 stating that Kunju tried to pressurise him to withdraw the case. He told Vigilance that Kunju offered him Rs 5 lakh to withdraw the complaint he had filed against the latter citing he used two bank accounts of a media organisation under his control to launder black money of Rs 10 crore in 2016, reportedly just after demonetisation. The money is allegedly related to the Palarivattom flyover construction scam.
“I filed the plea at the court as there was immense pressure to withdraw the case. When I didn’t budge, Ebrahim Kunju’s aides asked me to submit a letter stating some IUML leaders had influenced me to file the complaint. He promised to give me Rs 5 lakh if the letter was submitted. At first some people in my locality, who are close with the former minister, approached me. Later I spoke with Ebrahim Kunju and his son at their house. He directly offered me Rs 5 lakh,” Gireesh had said.
The High Court had then ordered the Vigilance IG to probe the matter and file a report within two weeks. The present interrogation is part of this proceedings.
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