Quick Summary: Aneesh Babu, a cashew dealer from Kollam, was denied bail by the Kerala High Court in a money laundering case involving ₹25.5 crore.
Aneesh Babu, a 34-year-old from Kollam, was accused of money laundering. He and others were said to have tricked people by promising to import cashews from Tanzania and offer jobs. They allegedly collected over ₹25.5 crore but didn't follow through on their promises.
Aneesh's request for bail was first denied by the Additional Sessions Court VII in Ernakulam. He then went to the Kerala High Court, where the case was heard by Judge Kauser Edappagath on November 20, 2025.
"The applicant is alleged to have committed offences under the Prevention of Money-Laundering Act, 2002," noted the court.
Aneesh was connected to several crimes reported in Kottarakkara and Kollam East. These included cheating, making fake documents, and job fraud. The Enforcement Directorate in Kochi filed a case against him in March 2021, citing money laundering activities.
Judge Edappagath highlighted the seriousness of the crimes. The prosecution argued that Aneesh was not helping with the investigation and might try to influence witnesses if he was let out on bail.
"The magnitude of the offence is high, and the applicant failed to satisfy the mandatory conditions for bail," the court stated.
The court stressed the need to follow Section 45 of the PMLA, which sets strict rules for granting bail in such cases. The investigation was at a critical point, and it was necessary for Aneesh to be questioned while in custody.
Given the seriousness of the accusations and the ongoing investigation, the court decided not to grant bail. Aneesh Babu remains involved in a case that highlights the challenges of dealing with financial crimes and the strict legal rules that apply to them.
"Accordingly, the bail application is dismissed," concluded Judge Edappagath.
