Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Wednesday asked the state government why the Vigilance Director was not removed from the post. The court also summoned DySP probing a case related to corruption elements in the Legislative Act.
The court observed ‘a very strange situation of anarchic actions of excess on the part of VACB in Kerala.’
The officer should also file a written explanation on why the investigation process should be allowed to continue.
“If the explanation is not satisfactory and if the court finds vigilance excess even in legislative process, the Vigilance Director will have to be summoned to court to show cause against actions in matters like this now pending before the High Court,” the court held.
It issued the order on a petition filed by small scale industrialist Benny Abraham seeking to quash the FIR registered by Vigilance against him. The allegation is that former finance minister K.M. Mani had helped Super Pigment Lead Oxide manufacturing unit in Kurichi, Kottayam to evade tax to the tune of '1.66 crore.
Court observed that the petitioner in the case happened to avail the benefit of a Budget proposal made by the then government and it has now become part of the Finance Act passed by the Assembly. The VACB is now probing into the corruption elements in the Legislative Act. Court observed that if the VACB goes to that extent, something will have to be done by the High Court. The DySP, who registered the crime, should appear in court in person on April 6 and explain how or under what authority he registered the crime in this case to probe into the wisdom of Legislative Assembly of Kerala that passed the Finance Act.
The Chief Secretary to the government, the finance secretary and also the secretary, Home and Vigilance department should explain the stand of the government in such matters of excess on the part of the VACB. The duo should file separate statement in the case.
