The Kerala High Court on December 8 (Friday) issued notice to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter T. Veena, prominent United Democratic Front (UDF) leaders, including Ramesh Chennithala, P.K. Kunhalikutty and V.K. Ebrahim Kunju, Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) and others on a petition challenging an order of the Muvattupuzha Vigilance Special court dismissing a plea for an investigation into the alleged illegal financial transactions between the CMRL and the political leaders.
Justice K. Babu ordered impleading of the political leaders and issued them notice when a petition filed by social activist Gireesh Babu of Kalamassery (since dead) came up for hearing.
The Vigilance court, while dismissing the plea, had observed that the complainant had not furnished any prima facie material which will show that the political leaders made favours to the CMRL in their capacity as public servants in return for the alleged payments. The Vigilance court had also noted that the order of the Interim Board for Settlement under the Income Tax Act dated June 12, 2023 “does not show a prima facie case of commission of any offences” punishable under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The petitioner had sought a directive to the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) to register an FIR and conduct a probe into his complaint lodged with the VACB.
