Overview

• The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) arrested Wilson Varghese, Mukesh Jain, and Renjith Warrier for their roles in a ₹2 crore extortion scheme targeting a Kollam-based businessman under ED investigation.
• Wilson Varghese posed as an ED intermediary, demanding ₹2 crore in staged payments to halt the ED probe, and was caught in a sting operation with chemically treated currency.
• Mukesh Jain, suspected of hawala links, allegedly facilitated offshore bank accounts for the extortion scheme and was arrested based on Wilson's confession.
• Chartered accountant Renjith Warrier was apprehended for allegedly sharing the businessman’s details with the conspirators, further implicating him in the racket.
• The VACB remand report identified Shekhar Kumar, an ED assistant director, as the key accused, raising concerns about internal collusion within the enforcement agency.