Kerala: ED raids CPI(M) MLA Moideen, others in cooperative bank linked money laundering case
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday raided premises of CPI(M) MLA A C Moideen and some others as part of a money laundering investigation linked to an alleged Rs 100 crore fraud in the party controlled Karuvannur cooperative bank, official sources said.
The federal agency is covering about half a dozen premises in the state as part of the action being undertaken as per the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), they said.
The premises of Moideen, a former minister of local self government, and those linked to him are being searched for evidence of gathering details of "benami" assets, the sources said.
The case pertains to the ED's probe that on the instructions of CPI(M) district level leaders and committee members who governed the bank, loans were allegedly disbursed "in cash" to non-member benamis by mortgaging properties of poor members without their knowledge and laundered to the benefit of the accused.
The agency suspects many such "benami" loans were disbursed, allegedly on the instructions of Moideen.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Unnao rape case: SC sets aside order suspending Sengar's life term, asks HC to decide plea afresh
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Friday set aside a Delhi High Court order suspending the life sentence of former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case and asked it to decide the plea afresh.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi also asked the high court to make endeavours to decide the main plea of Sengar against his conviction and life imprisonment in the case within two months.
It further said that if it was not possible for the high court to decide the main plea expeditiously, then it should pass an order on a plea of Sengar seeking the suspension of the life term in the case before the start of the summer vacation there.
ALSO READ: CBI conducts searches in Haryana bank scam case; seizes financial records, digital evidence
The bench, which had earlier set aside the HC order granting bail to Sengar after a huge public uproar over the issue, said that it did not express any opinion on the merits of the case and the high court could proceed with it afresh.
The CJI also asked the HC to decide afresh issues like whether an MLA can be treated as a public servant for being prosecuted under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Earlier, the top court had deferred to the first week of May the hearing on a petition filed by the CBI challenging the suspension of life imprisonment of the former MLA in the rape case.
On December 29 last year, the top court stayed the Delhi High Court order suspending Sengar's life sentence and said he shall not be released from custody.
In its order dated December 23, 2025, the Delhi High Court had said that Sengar had been convicted under Section 5 (C) (aggravated penetrative sexual assault by a public servant) of the POCSO Act but an elected representative does not fit the definition of a "public servant" under Section 21 of the Indian Penal Code.
The high court had suspended the jail term of Sengar, who was serving life imprisonment in the Unnao rape case, till the pendency of his appeal, saying he had already served seven years and five months in prison.
The high court order has sparked criticism from various sections of society and protests were held by the victim, her family and activists.
