CSR Scooter Scam: Kerala High Court grants anticipatory bail to Laly Vincent

The Kerala High Court on Monday granted anticipatory bail to Congress leader Laly Vincent in connection with the CSR fund scam case [Laly Vincent v State of Kerala]..The case involves allegations that crores of money were swindled by the prime accused Ananthu Krishnan, who had promised delivery of two-wheelers to women at half the price. Krishnan allegedly made these promises by claiming that he had access to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds of various companies to cover the remaining price of the scooters. .Laly Vincent, a lawyer by profession has been implicated as the 7th accused in this case after the police found certain payments made by Krishnan to her. Justice PV Kunhikrishnan allowed her plea for anticipatory bail in the matter today after taking note of Vincent's argument that any ties she had to the prime accused were strictly professional.The Court opined she had a definite case that an amount received by her from the prime accused was a professional fee for her service as a lawyer to her client."I can't say that a lawyer can only take this much amount as their professional fee," the judge orally observed, while rejecting the State's argument that Vincent had received substantial sums of money from the prime accused. .The Court also clarified that its observations were made only for the purpose of deciding Vincent's anticipatory bail application, and that they should not influence the ongoing investigation."I'm not in a position to conclude that the petitioner has any involvement in the case at this stage, but I make it clear that the investigating officer shall investigate the matter in accordance with law, I make such an observation only for the purpose of deciding this bail application investigating officer is free to investigate the matter untrammeled by an observation in this order," the judge said.The Court further directed Vincent to appear before the investigating officer within two weeks..The case involves allegations of a large-scale scam orchestrated by Ananthu Krishnan, the prime accused, who had set up the 'Muvattupuzha Socio-Economic Development Society' and multiple seed societies across Kerala.The scheme lured people, majorly women, with promises of two-wheelers, laptops, and sewing machines at half price, with the remaining amount purportedly being covered by CSR funds from reputed companies.However, after collecting vast sums from the public, no goods were delivered, and multiple cases were registered across the State. Authorities estimate that the total fraud amount collected by the accused exceeds ₹1,000 crore..The case was registered at Kannur Town South Police Station. Vincent has been booked in the same case under Sections 316(2) (criminal breach of trust) and 318(4) (cheating) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. She approached the Court seeking protection from arrest earlier this month. She denied any wrongdoing in the case, adding that she had merely offered a legal consultation to Krishnan and had no role in the financial transactions involved in the alleged scam. Her counsel added that any money sent to Vincent's account was for professional legal services rendered over a period of four years as a legal advisor to the prime accused.Vincent's counsel further emphasised that she was implicated in the case as part of a politically motivated effort to malign her reputation.The prosecution, on the other hand, claimed that Vincent had received approximately ₹50 lakhs from Krishnan, and that her involvement in the scam needed further investigation..Laly Vincent was represented by advocates S Rajeev, V Vinay, MS Aneer, Sarath KP, KS Kiran Krishnan, Anilkumar CR, and Dipa V..[Read Order]