The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted multiple raids across the State in connection with the corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds scam on Tuesday.

The agency registered a case in connection with the alleged scam to trace the money trail and verify whether money laundering was one of the objectives of the accused.

The ED raided 12 locations, including the house of K.N. Ananda Kumar, chairman of the National NGO Confederation, one of the firms set up by key accused Ananthu Krishnan to pull off the alleged scam, and the office of the Sri Sathya Sai Orphanage Trust, of which Mr. Kumar is the founder and executive director, in Thiruvananthapuram.

Meanwhile, Mr Kumar has moved court for anticipatory bail.

The ED also raided the house and office of Congress leader and lawyer Laly Vincent in Kochi. Ms. Vincent has been arraigned as an accused in a case registered by the Kannur police in connection with the scam .

The office of an executing agency of the fraudulent scheme in North Paravur and the residence of one of its office-bearers were also raided.

Besides, the house and office of Mr. Krishnan in Idukki as well as the offices of the Socio Economic Environment Development (SEED) society formed by him in Kadavanthra here were also raided.

Reportedly, the ED is verifying whether he had parked the allegedly ill-gotten funds in the properties he had bought.

The special investigation team (SIT) of the Crime Branch probing the scam continued the custodial interrogation of Mr. Krishnan on Tuesday. M.J. Sojan, Superintendent who heads the SIT, inspected Social Bee Ventures, one of the four firms set up by Mr. Krishnan. The SIT has been inspecting his offices since the last week.

Talking to mediapersons, Mr. Sojan said ED officials visited Social Bee Ventures at Kadavanthra for raids but did not proceed since the CB-SIT was already searching the place. Mr. Krishnan’s custody will end on Wednesday.

Published - February 18, 2025 08:54 pm IST