Thiruvananthapuram: In a major crackdown in the infamous scooter scam, the Enforcement Directorate Tuesday conducted lightning searches at 12 locations.
The raids followed the interrogation of the prime accused Ananthu Krishna who cheated hundreds of women by promising them scooters, laptops and other items at half the price under non-existent CSR funds. The scam is now pegged at over Rs 500 crore.
The searches were simultaneously held at premises linked to K N Anandakumar, chairman of prominent NGO Sri Sathya Sai Orphanage Trust, Congress leader Laly Vincent, who had been Ananthu Krishnan’s legal adviser, and others.
The ED raids came soon after the state Crime Branch registered multiple cases against Krishnan, Anandakumar and others.
The Crime Branch had earlier informed a court in Kochi that Ananthu Krishna held 21 bank accounts and that he had allegedly mobilised Rs 548 crore, mainly from around 30,000 applicants who paid for the products that he promised to provide at half price.
These products, he had promised women, would be provided at half price with the other half being covered by CSR funds from corporate entities.
Meanwhile, the Kerala High court Tuesday expressed concern at the registration of an FIR against former judge of the Kerala High Court C.N. Ramachandran Nair in connection with the scam wondering if there was a proper application of mind by the investigating authorities.
The retired judge was arraigned as the third accused. Acting against a judge without proper evidence could affect people’s confidence in the judiciary, the court said.
In another move, Sathya Sai Orphanage Trust chairman Anandakumar has moved an anticipatory bail plea with the additional sessions court in Thiruvananthapuram after he was booked in cases, along with Ananthu Krishna. Anandakumar was the chairman of the confederation of the NGOs, which was cobbled together for the scam.
