Kochi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) that is investigating the alleged fiscal scam relating to Wadakkanchery Life Mission housing complex has summoned NRI Billionaire and Lulu Group Chairman M. A. Yusuff Ali. Ali has asked to appear before the ED probe team at its Kochi office on March 16 for questioning in connection with its probe in the alleged violation of the Foreign Contribution (Regulations) Act- FCRA.
As per sources Ali was earlier summoned for questioning on March 1 but did not appear at the ED office.
A few days back the ED had arrested M Sivasankar, the former principal secretary to Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, in connection with the Life Mission scam.
The Life Mission scam was relating to the alleged bribes taken from the builders of the government’s prestigious housing project in Wadakkanchery town in Thrissur. Houses were to be built for about 140 families in the town at a cost of Rs 14.50 crore out of the Rs 20 crore granted by the Red Crescent through the UAE consulate.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had in 2020 registered a case and filed an FIR in a Kochi court under Section 120B of the Indian Penal Code and Section 35 of FCRA on a complaint by then Congress MLA Anil Akkara, listing Santosh Eappen, the Managing Director of Unitac Builder, as the first accused and Sane Ventures as second accused.
Since FERA violations were suspected the ED took up the probe and Yusuff Ali has been summoned to investigate his alleged role, if any, in the scam.
