Santhosh Eappen, Managing Partner of M/s Unitac Builders and Developers and M/s Sane Ventures LLP, has been arrested under the PMLA, 2002, in connection with the investigation into the LIFE Mission Scam.
The Enforcement of Directorate (ED) has registered a money laundering case on the basis of an FIR registered by the CBI, ACB, Cochin, and VACB, Thiruvananthapuram under the Prevention of Corruption Act against M/s Unitac, M/s Sane Ventures, and others for suspected pecuniary advantage obtained by some persons from the Life Mission Project and illegal gratifications received by various persons, including some public servants.
The Red Crescent, a UAE-based humanitarian organisation, approached the UAE Consulate General in Thiruvananthapuram, proposing to contribute in Kerala for charitable causes. Authorities from the UAE Consulate in Thiruvananthapuram, in turn, addressed the Kerala Government through the CMO and signed an Agreement with the Life Mission Team on July 11, 2019.
A plot was hatched by Consulate employees, with the active support of M. Sivasankar, then Pr. Secretary to the Chief Minister, to generate a commission as a bribe from Red Crescent funds by awarding the LIFE Mission project to M/s Unitac Builders and Developers and M/s Sane Ventures LLP, both run by Santhosh Eappen. Santhosh Eappen had arranged an upfront commission as a bribe for UAE Consulate Authorities and Kerala Government Officials from the cash received from the UAE Red Crescent by withdrawing money from Santhosh Eappen’s bank accounts, which he also confirmed.
On March 20, 2023, the ED apprehended Santhosh Eappen and brought him before the Hon’ble PMLA Court on March 21, 2023. The Court of Appeal has granted ED custody for three days. In this scenario, more research is underway.
