Kochi: The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) conducted raids on the properties owned by former minister K. Babu and his relatives on Saturday based on the search memorandum issued by the Muvattupuzha Vigilance Court. This followed an FIR registered by the VACB against Mr Babu for amassing wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income on August 31.
The Vigilance made Mr Babu the first accused in the case and named his alleged benamis, Baburam and Mohanan, as the other accused. The Vigilance in its FIR stated that Mr Babu had real estate deals and bought 120 acres of land in Theni, Tamil Nadu, and a luxury sedan worth Rs 45 lakh. “During the tenure as the excise minister, K. Babu abused his power and accumulated wealth. He had connection with the real estate mafia, business groups and benamis in Ernakulam district and outside Kerala,” the FIR said.
“There are so many allegations against him, including partnership in Polakkulam Renai Medi City Hospital at Palarivattom, connection with Royal Bakery, Thrippunithura, Lock Bricks business with his elder daughter's father-in-law at Thodupuzha, share at Impact Steel Co, Labour Junction, Eroor, partnership with Thoppil Joji, real estate connection with Baburam and P. D. Sreekumar,” the FIR read. Five-time MLA from Ernakulam district, Mr Babu refuted the charges and claimed that he had done nothing illegal.
The raids by a team of VACB central zone under its superintendent of police T. Narayanan began at 6.45 a.m. at seven locations in Kochi and ended at 3 p.m. Raids were conducted at the residences of Mr Babu's daughter Athira at Palarivattom, Aiswarya at Thodupuzha, his aide and real estate dealer Baburam at Kumbalam and another aide Mohanan, who is the proprietor of Royal Bakers, at Tripunithura.
