Kerala High Court seeks government view on Pattoor land case

Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Tuesday sought the state government's view on a Vigilance case registered against former chief secretary E.K. Bharat Bhushan in the controversial Pattoor land grab case. The court posted Mr  Bhushan's plea seeking to quash the FIR registered by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau against him. Former chief minister Oommen Chandy is also an accused in the case. Mr  Bhushan contended before the court that the FIR had been lodged  to wreak political vengeance and  actuated with political as well as bureaucratic mala fides.

The court adjourned the hearing of the case to March 7.  The petitioner argued that the only ground on which the FIR was lodged was that a sewerage pipeline was shifted in violation of section 16 of the Kerala Water Supply and Sewerage Act, 1986. Even if the prosecution is permitted to continue, it is impossible to end up in conviction of the accused, he argued.  There is no sufficient ground for proceeding against the accused, he added.

Another petition filed by Mr T.S. Ashok, MD of Artech Realtors Ltd, is also pending before the court. The petitioner, an accused in the case, contended that  on the basis of a joint venture with Avruthi Mal Management Company and five others, he had  undertaken land development at  Vanchiyoor for construction of multi-storied residential and non- residential apartments. According to him, the water pipeline was  shifted through  one side of the registered holding and on the other side through the poramboke. He had also deposited Rs 13,20,000 towards additional expenses for shifting the pipeline.