Crime branch to probe KCCI's financial transaction

KOCHI: The crime branch will now inquire into the alleged transaction of Rs 2.45 crore from the Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industry's (Kaccount to India Middle East Broadcasting Network Pvt Ltd to launch a regional television channel.The Ernakulam central police on Friday received an order from the office of ADGP (crime) regarding the transfer of the case to the economic offences wing of the crime branch. In June this year, the complainant and former director of KCCI, M K Ansari, approached the Kerala high court seeking a CBI inquiry. The case pertains to the transaction of Rs 2.45 crore between 2012 and 2014 from the accounts of KCCI and Kerala Trade Centre (KTC) to India Middle East Broadcasting Network Pvt Ltd. Directors of KCCI -- K N Marzook, Biju C Cherian, C P George and Mathew George -- are the four accused in the case. It is alleged that the then KCCI secretary helped the four accused with the transactions.The central police registered a case on May 22 this year based on the petition filed by Ansari to the home minister. The case was transferred to central police after ACP (narcotics cell) conducted a preliminary inquiry. "The inquiry found that there was no criminal offence in the alleged case. The ACP submitted a report recommending a probe to find if any violation of Companies Act has taken place ," said a police official.The inquiry found that the money was transferred between 2012 and14. "While the transaction was exempted from the annual report of KCCI in 2012-13 and 2013-14, the same transaction was mentioned in the annual report of India Middle East Broadcasting Network Pvt Ltd," said a police official."The amount was transacted from KCCI and KTC without the knowledge of office-bearers. The amount was shown as loan granted by KCCI and KTC for starting the channel," said Ansari.DSP (EOW), Ernakulam, will assist crime branch SP (EOW-II) Kottayam in the investigation.