Kerala High Court refuses CBI probe into bribery allegations against ED officer

The Kerala High Court on Monday refused to order a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the bribery allegations raised by businessman Aneesh Babu against Enforcement Directorate (ED) officer Shekhar Kumar [Aneesh Babu v The Secretary, Home Affairs and ors].

Justice A Badharudeen was hearing a plea by Babu seeking CBI investigation into allegations that the ED officer had demanded ₹2 crore rupees as bribe to settle a money laundering case registered against him and his family.

The Court considered the report filed by State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) which stated that a crime had already been registered in this matter and investigation was actively progressing.

Thus, the Court disposed of the petition with a direction to the VACB to complete the investigation within 90 days, while reserving the petitioner's right to approach the Court if aggrieved by the outcome of the investigation.

"At this juncture it is too premature for this Court to order investigation of crime by the CBI. Therefore such prayer is rejected and the investigating agency is directed to effectuate investigation fruitfully and complete the same within period of 90 days from date or receipt of this order, after considering the allegations in Exhibit P5 representation also," the Court stated in its order.

Earlier during the hearing of the case too, the Court had observed that the petitioner's request to transfer investigation from VACB to another agency could not be ordered unless there were serious flaws in the ongoing probe.

Aneesh Babu is a Kollam based businessman accused in a cashew import fraud and money laundering case.

He was arrested by the ED in January 2026 and was later granted bail in April 2026 by a special court in Ernakulam which deals with cases under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA).

Babu moved the present plea before the Court alleging that an ED officer had demanded bribe from him and his family.

In his plea, he stated the investigation into the alleged corruption must be transferred from the vigilance to the CBI as the current probe by the against the officer was being influenced by political and external factors.

Advocates Liju V Stephen, Indu Susan Jacob, Jiji Joy and Sanjay Johnson Mathew appeared for Babu.

Standing counsel Jaishankar V Nair appeared for ED

Special government pleader Sreelal Warriar appeared for the CBI.

A detailed copy of the order is awaited.