THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau has initiated three quick-verifications into the alleged irregularities at Kerala State Cashew Development Corporation (KSCDC) and Kerala State Cashew Workers Apex Industrial Cooperative Society (CAPEX) involving fisheries and cashew minister J. Mercykutty Amma. Vigilance director Jacob Thomas ordered the QVs based on separate private complaints, even as a petition seeking a probe was pending before the vigilance court here.
The new development may even trigger a political row as Ms Amma was a protégé of the veteran CPM leader V. S. Achuthanandan. Her husband P. Thulaseedhara Kurup, a former chairman of Capex, and KSCDC managing director T. F. Xaviour are also facing charges which include Rs 10 crore corruption in the purchase of cashew kernel, the appointment of Mr Xaviour, procurement of various equipment at CAPEX and a recent order altering norms.
When Congress legislator V. D. Satheesan had earlier raised the allegations in the Assembly, the minister had denied it and offered to face any probe. Lawyers Congress president P. Rahim subsequently petitioned the Vigilance director and later moved the court. The allegation raised by Mr Satheesan was that KSCDC and CAPEX purchased cashew kernels at higher rates by ignoring tenders quoting lower rates. This had caused losses to the tune of Rs 6.87 crore to KSCDC and Rs 3.47 crore to CAPEX.
The petitioner alleged that the conspiracy in this regard was hatched at the minister's chamber. However, the minister had earlier maintained that she had only initiated steps to resume functioning of cashew factories during Onam. According to sources, a vigilance team already took the statement of the petitioner as part of the QV. While special investigation unit is doing one QV in Thiruvananthapuram, two others are done by the Kollam unit.
