Kochi – The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Santhosh Eepan, a native of Kunnamkulam, who is the owner of Unitac Company who won the construction contract and who is the first accused in the black money case related to the bribery transaction of Rs. The arrest was made yesterday after being summoned and questioned.
The case against Santosh Eepan is that the money given by the Red Crescent for the project was withdrawn from the bank and converted into dollars as bribe to the officials of the UAE Consulate and the former Principal Secretary M. Sivashankar. Santhosh Eepan is also the first accused in the case registered by the CBI for illegally accepting foreign donations without informing the central government.
As part of the bribe, Santosh Eipan bought four phones worth more than one lakh rupees and gave them to Sapna. Customs found a phone in Shivashankar’s possession. Apart from this, the ED concluded that Santhosh Eepan paid Rs 1 crore as bribe which was found in a bank locker opened together by Swapna Suresh, the main accused in the case, and Shiv Shankar’s personal chartered accountant Venugopal. Santosh Eapan will be produced in a special court today.
English Summary: Santhosh Eapen arrested by ED
