Thiruvananthapuram: The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) is allegedly trying to sabotage the Rs 90-crore corruption charges on the purchase of rice from Andhra Pradesh by the Consumerfed. The department has reportedly received a strange legal advice that the case should be closed as the loss was caused 'involuntarily' without the knowledge of the accused. This was stated by advocate Hridesh Chandran who had approached the High Court seeking a probe into the Consumerfed corruption.
The Consumerfed had faced a host of graft charges during the tenure of the previous UDF government with the VACB registering about 45 cases on this score. The cases included losses caused to Neethi and Nanma stores and irregularities worth Rs 2.5 crore in the purchase of vegetables for the Onam markets.
Mr Hridesh Chandran had sought a probe on the basis of audit reports of Neethi and Nanma sections at Consumerfed head office from 2011 to 2014. Of the 45 vigilance cases, 19 were related to raids in the anti-corruption drive code-named 'Operation Annapurna. The agency has, according to preliminary estimates, stumbled on financial irregularities and corruption which could have cost the public exchequer more than Rs.60 crore. The allegations included corruption and amassment of wealth, he told DC.
The cases have been delayed with filing the chargesheet or taking the statement from the witness. It would mean that the cases would be sabotaged. In the past, courts had dismissed cases after the accused had pointed out delay in filing chargesheets. "Hence, we suspect that the delay was deliberate to help the accused," said Mr Chandran.
