ED recovers debit card of drug peddler from Bineesh Kodiyeri residence in Kerala

NEW DELHI/KOCHI:

The Enforcement Directorate

has recovered some incriminating documents, including debit card of drug peddler Mohammed Anoop, from the residence of Bineesh Kodiyeri, the younger son of Kerala CPM’s secretary

Kodiyeri Balakrishnan

.


The crucial evidence — that could nail the Kodiyeri junior as 'beneficiary' of the illegal narcotics trade he is alleged to be part of and for which he has been arrested — were recovered during the Wednesday’s searches at Kodiyeri’s residence in

Thiruvanathapuram

.

Multiple searches were conducted by the ED across Kerala in an ongoing investigation of drug peddling and money laundering against the senior CPM leader's son.

The evidence seized includes financial documents of Mohammed Anoop, the drug peddler arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau last month from Bengaluru, linking him to the Kodiyeri junior. The money laundering investigation initiated by the ED has revealed Bineesh as the ring leader of an alleged illicit narcotics trade with a wide network of consumers and peddlers across Karnataka and Kerala.

Bineesh was first arrested by the ED on October 29 and continues to be in its custody for an extended interrogation session over his network of 'peddlers' and front entities managing his underground enterprises, including chain of shops and car dealerships among other businesses.

According to sources, Bineesh and his family members are trying to distance themselves from Mohammed Anoop and have denied any association with the drug peddler. However, the crucial banking document, including the debit card, recovered during Wednesday's searches from Bineesh’s residence would be sufficient to nail him as the 'beneficiary' of the illicit narcotics trade.

The 'proceeds of crime' from the narcotics trade and transfers/postings of bureaucrats are alleged to have funded Kodiyer junior’s underground enterprises that have been unearthed by the ED during its money laundering investigation, say sources.

TOI had earlier reported that ED probe has unearthed a number of business enterprises, including a chain of shops and car dealerships in Thiruvananthapuram, multiple luxury cars (at least two of them worth Rs 2 crore each) hotels, showrooms of electrical fittings, etc. controlled by Bineesh Kodiyeri in the name of his associates and front entities.

Sources said that Mohammed Anoop has shared a lot of details against Bineesh Kodiyeri and his underground empire with the ED that led to the searches on multiple premises in Kerala.