Kerala VACB Says ₹14.10 Lakh and $788 Seized in GST Official Probe
KOCHI: The Kerala Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau has seized ₹14.10 lakh in Indian currency and $788 in US currency during searches connected to an alleged disproportionate-assets inquiry involving State GST Joint Commissioner Prajani Rajan, officials said.
The operation was carried out on Saturday, September 26, and details were disclosed on Sunday, September 27. Vigilance teams searched Rajan’s office at the State GST complex in Thevara and two residential properties in the Pachalam area of Kochi.
According to the VACB, the searches began at about 7:45 a.m. and continued for approximately 13 hours, concluding at around 9:15 p.m. The agency said the Indian and foreign currency, along with financial records and other documents collected during the operation, would undergo further examination.
Inquiry concerns alleged disproportionate assets
The searches formed part of an investigation into allegations that Rajan possessed assets disproportionate to her known lawful sources of income. The VACB said a preliminary inquiry examined her income, expenditure and assets over the period from 2014 to 2024.
Investigators have alleged that assets valued at approximately ₹2.89 crore could not be reconciled with the income considered during that preliminary assessment. The figure remains an allegation under investigation and has not been established through a completed trial or final judicial determination.
The bureau subsequently registered a case and obtained a search warrant from the Muvattupuzha Vigilance Court, according to officials. The operation was conducted by the VACB’s Ernakulam Special Cell under the supervision of senior officers.
Authorities have described the seized Indian currency as money requiring verification. Investigators are expected to examine records and any explanation offered regarding its source before deciding what further action, if any, is warranted. Possession of cash or foreign currency by itself does not prove that an offence has been committed.
Cash and records to be produced in court
The VACB said the seized currency and relevant documents are planned to be presented before the Muvattupuzha Vigilance Court. Court presentation is a procedural step that places seized material before the judicial forum overseeing the case; it is not a finding of guilt.
The agency is expected to review financial statements, property records, income information and other material obtained during the searches. Investigators may also compare the documents with information gathered during the preliminary inquiry to determine whether the alleged difference between income and assets can be substantiated or satisfactorily explained.
No final conclusion has been announced regarding the ownership, source or legal status of the recovered money. Any assessment of whether the assets were disproportionate will depend on the evidence collected, explanations received and subsequent legal proceedings.
Allegations remain unproven
The case involves serious allegations against an identifiable public official, but the investigation remains at an early stage. A search, seizure or registration of a case does not establish criminal responsibility. Rajan is entitled to due process and the presumption of innocence unless wrongdoing is proved before a competent court.
The inquiry may lead to additional investigative steps, or the evidence may provide explanations that affect the agency’s initial assessment. The VACB has not announced a final report, prosecution outcome or judicial finding against Rajan in connection with the searches.
Further clarity is expected after the seized material is presented to the court and investigators complete their examination of the currency, records and alleged asset calculations.
