Kochi: The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) on Monday re-recorded statement of former Excise minister and Congress leader K Babu in the disproportionate assets case. A team led by DySP Special Cell T.U. Sajeevan recorded the minister’s statement at his residence in Trippunithura. “The process lasted four hours. He revealed a few more details about his assets. We’ll analyse the same in detail and decide whether further probe in the case needed to be done,” a VACB officer said.
The VACB special Cell, Kochi, issued a notice to Babu directing him to appear before it on January 23. However, the minister cited ill-health to excuse himself following which the sleuths visited his residence to record the statement.
According to VACB officials, the former minister recently approached the Home Secretary seeking to re-record his statement stating that he wanted to add some information that he could not reveal before the investigation officer earlier. The case was registered in 2016 when realtor P.S. Baburam and businessman Mohanan were also arraigned as accused on suspicion that they were benamis of Babu. However, in its recent report filed before the High Court, the VACB stated that there was no evidence against Baburam.
