Nepotism row: Thiruvananthapuram Vigilance Court approves probe on EP Jayarajan

Thiruvananthapuram: Even as the CPM central committee was in session here, the Thiruvananthapuram Vigilance Court on Saturday gave sanction for further investigation against former minister E.P. Jayarajan in connection with the nepotism case registered by the Vigilance.

Mr Jayarajan is a member of the central committee. The court also accepted the FIR registered against Mr Jayarajan for appointing Mr Sudhir Nambiar, son of Ms P.K. Sreemathy MP, his wife’s sister, as the managing director of Kerala State Industrial Enterprises Ltd (KSIE) flouting rules.

The Vigilance charged Mr Jayarajan with nepotism and conspiracy. It had registered an FIR on Friday with Mr Jayarajan as the first accused, Mr Sudhir Nambiar as the second and Mr Paul Antony, industries additional chief secretary, as the third accused. The Vigilance informed the court that all the three accused had a definite role in the conspiracy.

Vigilance SP K. Jayakumar also informed the Vigilance court that more files related to the case had to be seized as proof. Mr Sudhir was only a graduate and was appointed to the post that has B Tech and MBA as qualifications, violating the “due process of selection" laid down by RIAB.

The Vigilance equated the case to that against former ministers P.K. Kunhalikutty and Adoor Prakash over the land dealings at Puthenvelikkara. The FIR pointed out that though two other persons were shortlisted for the posts after interview and other procedures, Mr Sudheer was selected overlooking them by the industries secretary allegedly as per the directive of Mr Jayarajan without getting the mandatory Vigilance clearance.

Mr Jayarajan, who was the number two in the ministry under Mr Pinarayi Vijayan, had to resign from the post of industries minister in November last year.