ED Officer Accused of Demanding ₹2 Crore Bribe: Kerala Awaits High Court Verdict

“Pay ₹2 crore and stop the probe!” – This explosive allegation against an Enforcement Directorate (ED) officer has become one of the hottest topics in Kerala today. Shekhar Kumar, an Assistant Director at the ED office in Kochi, has landed in the spotlight after a Kollam-based cashew businessman, Aneesh Babu, accused him of demanding a bribe of ₹2 crore to halt an ongoing investigation. In response, Shekhar has filed an anticipatory bail plea in the Kerala High Court, which is scheduled to be considered next week.

Following these revelations, a high-profile sting operation led to the arrest of middlemen Wilson Varghese, Mukesh Kumar, and Chartered Accountant Ranjith Varier by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB). During the operation, Wilson was caught red-handed accepting ₹2 lakh in marked currency, allegedly as part of the larger ₹2 crore deal. All three were later released on bail. According to VACB, these individuals acted on behalf of Shekhar Kumar.

The ED investigation in question targets Aneesh Babu’s cashew company, which is accused of defrauding various traders across Kerala of around ₹24 crore. The ED claims Aneesh is trying to derail the probe through manipulation and false accusations. Authorities also highlight that Aneesh ignored multiple ED summons and had his previous bail pleas rejected by the court.

In his bail application, Shekhar Kumar asserts that he has served with integrity in the ED since 2014 and has no connection with the arrested intermediaries. He claims he is being falsely implicated in a deliberate attempt to damage his reputation.

Now, the entire legal and political community in Kerala is closely watching how this case unfolds. The credibility of investigating agencies and public trust in the legal system hang in the balance as the court prepares to make a crucial decision.

This case is not just another corruption allegation—it poses a serious challenge to the integrity of our legal and investigative institutions. Whether Shekhar Kumar is granted bail and how the investigation proceeds will become clear in the coming days. Until then, the question of who is truly guilty looms large. The public deserves a clear answer. In the end, only truth should prevail.