Chakkittapara case: State mulls probe against Elamaram Kareem

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even as the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) has decided to drop the probe into the Rs 5-crore bribery allegation against CPM state secretariat member and former industries minister Elamaram Kareem in connection with Chakkittapara mining, the government is considering an option of a further probe, it is learnt.

According to sources, the government had received a legal opinion that the Vigilance did not take statements from Karna-taka firm MSPL’s representatives who allegedly paid a bribe and hence a further probe needs to be ordered.

Considering this, the government may order VACB to conduct further probe. The allegation pertains to granting permission for iron ore mining at Chakkittapara in Kozhikode.

Subair, former driver of Kareem’s close aide P.P. Naushad, alleged that Mr Naushad accepted the bribe of Rs 5 crore from the private firm’s representatives at Mascot Hotel in the state capital and took it straight away to Mr Kareem’s Kozhikode residence along with him.

VACB decided to drop the probe citing inconsistency in the statements of Sub-air. However, legal sources pointed out to the government that the VACB did not collect statements of those who allegedly paid the bribe and hence further probe could be ordered.

Though VACB tried to contact MSPL authorities, they did not respond. But VACB did not make further efforts to take their statements.

 

 

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