The filing of chargesheets in the extensive Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds scam, which encompasses over 1,600 cases across various parts of the state, has been unexpectedly delayed. Police had initially aimed to submit these by October, but that deadline has now been missed.
Back in September, authorities confirmed that chargesheets were actively being prepared under the direct guidance of Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) H. Venkatesh, who heads the Crime Branch, with a clear directive for prompt submission. However, senior police sources now attribute the ongoing delay to the meticulous process of due diligence required for such complex cases.
A Crime Branch official involved in the investigation clarified the challenges, stating, “Hundreds of cases stemming from similar offenses share interconnected evidence. Even a slight error in one chargesheet could compromise the integrity of all related cases. We are committed to ensuring absolute uniformity across all chargesheets to prevent any legal loopholes during trial. This demands exceptional coordination among all investigating officers.” The official further stressed the critical importance of establishing a consistent and unbroken chain of evidence throughout every single case.
To address these issues, a crucial meeting involving all heads of Crime Branch units engaged in the investigation is scheduled to take place before November 10. Two prior meetings have already occurred, though the police have yet to establish a firm timeline for the completion of these intricate procedures.
In connection with the scam, police have invoked the Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes (BUDS) Act, 2019, for all registered cases. This decision came after investigators determined that the accused operated without the necessary licenses to collect funds from the victims.
The core of these cases involves allegations that the accused defrauded numerous individuals by offering scooters, laptops, and sewing machines at half their actual price, falsely claiming these were funded through CSR initiatives. The primary accused, Ananthu Krishnan, and the second accused, K.N. Ananda Kumar, who serves as chairman of the National NGO Confederation, have been in judicial custody for several months following a deluge of complaints.
Detailed information provided by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in the Assembly revealed the vast scale of the fraud. The accused collectively extracted ₹281.43 crore from 49,386 individuals with promises of two-wheelers at a 50% discount; however, only 16,438 people actually received them. Similarly, ₹9.22 crore was collected from 36,891 individuals for discounted laptops, yet only 29,897 received theirs. In another scheme, ₹23.24 crore was raised from 56,082 people for sewing machines under similar false pretenses, with just 53,478 deliveries made.
Understandably, various forums representing the complainants have voiced significant apprehension regarding the prolonged delay in filing the chargesheets. They also expressed concern over the government’s failure to appoint a replacement for senior officer M.J. Sojan, who was transferred from his role leading the special investigation team probing the scam.