Tainted official given additional charge of Travancore Titanium Products

The tainted officer, K. Raghavan, is currently the assistant general manager and HoD, mineral separation unit of KMML.

He is the first accused in a conspiracy involving two other officers with the KMML in the purchase of crude titanium tetrachloride transfer pump from US-based Weir Hazleton for the chlorination plant in 2005 causing a loss of Rs 46.34 lakh to the exchequer.

An inquiry was conducted by the Vigilance in 2010 following the findings by the Accountant- General and the case is still under investigation.

“An anti-corruption council will move legally against the decision. The appointment of such an official will be an encouragement for such corrupt officers. He was appointed after influencing bureaucrats within the industries department,” alleged Mr Sugathan Mangalath, a former employee of KMML and the president of anti-corruption council.

The officer had earlier faced corruption allegations in the purchase of petroleum coke for industrial purposes in the plant.

The product was procured from a private firm, Sai international trading company, based at Karunagappally, and was later found to be of low quality in the sample test.

The Vigilance had registered a case and recommended action against Raghavan who was then the AGM (materials).

Three employees, including Raghavan, were suspended from the company following the Vigilance report. However, he was later exonerated.

“He was let off because he could influence the then MD, Michael Vedasiromony, to exempt the primary investigating officer from the trial for departmental action recommended by the Vigilance report. The MD has not even put his signature on the department order that exonerated Raghavan,” Mr. Sugathan alleged.