Kochi: The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) on Monday registered a case against former revenue minister Adoor Prakash, former industries and IT minister P K Kunhalikutty, Santhosh Madhavan and B. M. Jaishankar, MD of Bengaluru-based RMZ Eco World, in connection with a 92.44-acre IT park deal.
R. D. Ajith, DySP, VACB Special Investigation Unit-II, Thiruvananthapuram, submitted the FIR to Vigilance Judge P. Madhavan under his directive, rejecting its quick verification report (QVR).
The court ordered to register a case for offences under Section 120(B), 409 TPC and Section 13(l)(c)(d)(i)(ii) (iii) read with Section 13(2) and Section 15 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The complainant alleged that Mr Madhavan and Mr Jayasankar entered into a criminal conspiracy with the ministers to get an undue advantage by exempting about 95.44 acres of wetland of which 32.41 acres of land lying in Puthenvelikkara village in Ernakulam District and Madathumpady Village in Thrissur district.
Interestingly, the Taluk Land Board has earlier rejected the application for exemption from the ceiling on landholding. "The cancellation of an order will not absolve the public servants from the offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The fact that the government has not suffered loss due to it cannot be heard when offence was allegedly committed. Even attempt to commit an act through unlawful means is also an offence," the court had held.
