In the LIFE Mission Scam case, the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has attached immovable and moveable properties valued at Rs. 5.38 crore. The properties that are attached are held in the names of Smt. Swapna Suresh and Santhosh Eappen, respectively. The residential property is also held in her name.
Based on formal complaints filed under different sections of the IPC, FCRA, and Prevention of Corruption Act against M/s Unitac, M/s Sane Ventures, and others for purported financial benefits received from the Life Mission Project, the ED began an investigation. The formal complaints were filed by the CBI, ACB, Cochin, and VACB, Thiruvananthapuram.
The ED’s investigation revealed that Sarith P.S. and Smt. Swapna Suresh, who worked for the UAE Consulate at the time, had conspired to use commission from Red Crescent’s donated funds to bribe people. This was accomplished by awarding the LIFE Mission project to M/s Unitac Builders and Developers and M/s Sane Ventures LLP, both of which are led by Santhosh Eappen, without following the required standards of transparency. This plan has the enthusiastic support of M. Sivasankar, the Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Sandeep Nair, and others.
Out of the funds received from UAE Red Crescent for the Life Mission project, which was meant to provide residential homes to the defenseless flood victims of Kerala, Santhosh Eappen arranged an upfront commission as a bribe totaling Rs. 4.40 Crore for officials at the UAE Consulate and certain government officials in Kerala. This was done by taking money out of Santhosh Eappen’s firms’ bank accounts. Khaled Ahmed Ali Shoukry, the former finance head of the UAE Consulate in Trivandrum, illegally exported USD worth $1,90,000 of that money.
By creating POC and acquiring it, Sandeep Nair and Yedu Sundran were also discovered to have participated in the money laundering offence. Further research is now being conducted.
