The controversy over reclamation of paddy land by the former Minister Thomas Chandy is refusing to die down even after his death with a vigilance court summarily rejecting the request to treat the case as `a mistake of fact’.
In a recent order, M.Manoj, Enquiry Commissioner and Special Judge, has refused to accept a prayer in this regard by the investigation officer, Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau and returned the final report with a direction to conduct further investigation. The court also directed to submit the final report within four months.
“On analysing the materials collected in investigation, this court is of the considered opinion that the conclusion of the investigating officer that the offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 are not made out against the accused is not acceptable. Further probe is required in view of the facts and circumstances unearthed in the investigation,’’ noted the judge.
