In an unusual decision, the Union Government has compulsorily retired the Enforcement Directorate (ED)’s Deputy Director, P Radhakrishnan. The order cites allegations of bribery, leakage of sensitive operational details, and dereliction of duty against him.
The action was taken after an internal inquiry reportedly substantiated intelligence reports suggesting that Radhakrishnan had compromised investigations in the diplomatic baggage gold smuggling case in which he was an investigating officer. The inquiry had been ordered by the Union Ministry of Finance.
The action against him was taken under the provisions of Fundamental Rule 56(j) and the relevant Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, which empower the government to compulsorily retire employees in the public interest on grounds such as lack of integrity.
Radhakrishnan was also involved in the investigation of the dollar smuggling case and the KIIFB Masala Bonds case.
During the gold smuggling case investigation, it was alleged that the accused persons had been pressured to implicate Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
Further, way back in 2020, an audio clip featuring a key accused, Swapna Suresh, surfaced in the public domain in which she alleged that ED officials had compelled her to sign statements implicating the CM under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Radhakrishnan reportedly wrote to the Director General (DG) of Prisons and Correctional Services seeking a detailed inquiry into it and appropriate action against those responsible. The DG (Prisons) is said to have forwarded the letter to the Kerala DGP, who subsequently constituted an SIT to conduct an inquiry into the matter.
During the inquiry, two women police constables stated that on August 12 and 13, 2020, they had overheard ED officials coercing and persuading the accused to give statements implicating the CM and others.
On the basis of these statements, the police registered an FIR. But Radhakrishnan later approached the High Court, which subsequently quashed the FIR.
It brought a bad name to the ED, for which Radhakrishnan was first transferred to Chennai and then to Kashmir before being axed.
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