In accordance with the PMLA, the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) attached Former IAS Officer T.O. Sooraj’s assets, valued at Rs. 1.62 crores, in connection with the Disproportionate Assets (DA) case. The properties listed include unoccupied land in Kerala, fixed deposits, bank balances, and investments in shares, all of which are held in his name as well as in the names of his family members who also bought or own them.
T.O. Sooraj began working for the Kerala Government in 1980 as a forest ranger. In 1994, he received the designation of IAS Cadre. He had worked for the Keralan government in a number of departments.
On the basis of the Charge Sheet submitted by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau, Special Cell, Ernakulam against T.O. Sooraj, who was accused of accumulating wealth that was out of proportion to his known sources of income, ED launched a money laundering investigation. Several landed properties and automobiles that IAS Officer T.O. Sooraj had acquired in the names of his wife and their children were discovered during the PMLA inquiry. It was also discovered that he had bought a car in his associate’s benami identity. T.O. Sooraj used the fraudulent funds to buy a number of homes in the name of his family and associates.
Previously, the ED had attached numerous movable and immovable properties worth a combined Rs. 8.81 Crore that was held in his name as well as the names of his family members and associates. The total attachment, in this case, has increased to Rs. 10.43 Crore with the addition of the current attachment. Further research is now being conducted.
