Kochi: The Enforcement Directorate filed a charge sheet in the Vadakanchery flat construction money laundering case. M Sivashankar, who was previously the ninth accused, became the first accused in the charge sheet. ED also avoided the arrest of the second accused Swapna Suresh after the chargesheet was filed in the special court.
There are a total of 11 accused in the charge sheet. Earlier, M Sivashankar, who was the ninth accused, became the first accused. The ED found that M Sivashankar is the mastermind of the money laundering transaction. Swapna Suresh is the second accused. Swapna’s arrest was avoided by the ED after the chargesheet was filed.
Apart from Sivashankar, the ED has so far arrested only Unitac MD Santosh Eapan, the seventh accused in the case. Two companies in the name of Santosh Eapan are also in the charge sheet. Sarith and Sandeep Nair are accused in the same case.
The charge sheet also sought the issuance of a warrant against Khalid, the former chief account officer at the UAE consulate. The demand is to send summons to the other accused. While hearing M Sivashankar’s bail plea, the High Court had asked why Swapna was not arrested.
Swapna’s arrest was waived by the ED after the charge sheet was filed in a special court. After the examination of the charge sheet, the special court will issue a notice to the accused.
