Overview

• Shekhar Kumar, an ED Assistant Director, has filed for anticipatory bail in the Kerala High Court, asserting his innocence in a ₹2 crore bribery case.
• The Kerala Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) alleges Kumar solicited a bribe to halt a money-laundering probe into a cashew exporter.
• Kumar faces charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, related to undue advantage and conspiracy.
• The case originates from a 2021 ED investigation into alleged ₹24 crore fraud by Vazhavila Cashews, with the complainant claiming extortion demands from intermediaries.
• Kumar maintains a clean service record since 2014, denies any connection to the accused intermediaries, and has pledged full cooperation with investigators.