Kerala: Petitioners' intentions under scanner

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With corruption petitions being increasingly filed against senior officers of integrity, the intention of the petitioners often comes under the scanner. Despite provisions to make the petitioners accountable, it is seldom being followed. According to sources, the police intelligence wing had recently given  a report to the government raising suspicions over the intentions of some frequent petitioners, including one Paichira Navas, against whom three criminal cases were pending.

He had lodged a petition against former Vigilance director N. Shanker Reddy (present State Crime Records Bureau director) alleging attempt to sabotage the bar bribery probe as well as suppressing the petitions against former chief minister Oommen Chandy in connection with the solar scam. He had also lodged the petition against additional chief secretary Tom Jose.

Mr Jomon Puthenpurcakal, who often faced allegations of dubious intentions, had lodged the petition against additional chief secretary K.M. Abraham. “The reputation and the intention of the complainant is a basic factor in deciding whether to take forward a petition or not. The information should be reliable and it should come from a reliable person,” said former state police chief and former Vigilance director K.J. Joseph.