BJP leader demands high-level probe into Kerala's Karuvannur cooperative bank scam

Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], October 1 (ANI): Kerala BJP State General Secretary MT Ramesh has demanded a high-level inquiry into the Karuvannur Cooperative Bank scam, alleging that it is part of a larger corruption scandal involving the ruling CPI(M) party. 
Ramesh said "There is a huge amount of corruption being reported in the cooperative sector in Kerala, and that the Karuvannur scam is just the tip of the iceberg. CPI(M) is using cooperative banks for money laundering, and the scam involves crores of rupees." 
Ramesh demanded a CBI inquiry into the scam, as well as a forensic audit of the cooperative sector in Kerala. 
"CPI(M) leaders are involved in the corruption, and the BJP suspects that the scam goes beyond the two or three state committee members who are currently being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate," he added. 
The scam involves the fraudulent diversion of crores of rupees from the bank by bank officials and politicians. 
The Enforcement Directorate is currently investigating the scam and has arrested several people in connection with the case. 
Meanwhile, BJP State President K Surendran also alleged that culprits in the Karuvannur Cooperative Bank scam were getting protection from the CPI-M government in Kerala and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. 
Surendaran made the remarks in response to Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids in connection with the Karuvannur Cooperative Bank scam. 
"There is no political pressure from BJP, the investigation is going on as per the rule of the law. The crime branch investigated this case earlier and they tried to protect the culprits. The poor farmers, street vendors, and common man have lost the money in Karuvannur Cooperative Bank. All the culprits are important leaders and state committee members of CPI(M)," he had said. 
Enforcement Directorate (ED) on September 6 arrested two accused under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in the Karuvannur Service Co-Operative Society Bank fraud case, officials said. 
The two accused identified as Benami client Sathish Kumar and Kiran P P, a collection agent for the bank were arrested on Monday, the ED said. 
The first accused, Sathish Kumar, was the mastermind behind the Karuvannur bank fraud, the investigation agency said in court. The investigation team also found that out of the Rs 24.5 crore stolen by Kiran through benami loan transactions, Rs 14 crore was handed over to Sathish Kumar. 
The ED informed the court that the fraudulent contribution was paid through a bank account and in cash. However, the defendant alleged that in the case that started in 2021, inspections and arrests were made. (ANI)