Kochi: The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau has decided to re-record the statement of former Excise minister and Congress leader K Babu in the Disproportionate Assets case. The VACB special Cell, Kochi, issued a notice to Babu directing him to appear before it on January 23. The surprise decision comes even as the probe in the case entered the final stage and the agency expected to file the inquiry report by the first half of next month.
According to VACB officials, the former minister recently approached the Home Secretary seeking to re-record his statement stating that he wanted to add some information that he could not reveal before the investigation officer earlier. “Based on the petition, the VACB director directed us to record his statement. If he reveals any new information, we’ll probe that angle too. Otherwise, we’ll proceed with findings of the current probe,” an officer with the VACB said.
However, the Congress leader informed that he was having some health issues and the VACB team would be visiting his residence to record the statement. The development comes even as a new officer TU Sajeevan, Deputy Superintendent of Police, has taken over the investigation. Earlier in October 2016, the VACB had interrogated Babu and recorded his statement. The agency had also raided the residence of the former minister, his alleged close aides as well as a few of his relatives and seized several documents pertaining to his assets.
In its report filed before the High Court recently, the VACB said it has no evidence to prove Babu’s alleged benami links with the Kochi-based realtor P S Baburam, the second accused in the case. The report was filed on a direction by the court, while considering a petition by Baburam to quash the vigilance FIR against him.
