Kerala High Court to VACB: Register FIR against businessman V M Radhakrishnan
Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Friday asked the Vigilance and Anti- Corruption Bureau (VACB) to register an FIR against controversial businessman V.M. Radhakrishnan alias Chakku Radhakrishnan and others in the Malabar cements corruption case within one week. The court, heavily criticised the VACB, and warned its director that if he fails to register FIR the court will summon him. “All are equal before law,” the court observed.
The VACB conducted a quick verification and found serious financial irregularities to the tune of Rs 2.70 crore and cognisable offences of criminal misconduct, criminal breach of trust and criminal conspiracy were proved against the suspected persons. The court observed “this is a case wherein the director had clearly flouted the mandatory directions given by the Supreme Court in Lalithakumari case.
After getting the report from the director, the additional chief secretary had decided to exonerate all the other persons, except Prakash Joseph, by stating that it was the duty of the Comptroller and Auditor General to note down the irregularities, if any, in the matter. The court asked "Who is he to decide so?."
The VACB had conducted quick verification against the suspected persons- Prakash Joseph, legal officer, Malabar Cements (MCL), M. Sundaramoorthy, former MD, MCL, V.M. Radhakrishnan, managing director, M/s Ark Wood and Metal Pvt ltd and S. Vadivelu, former executive director Ark Wood. The court was considering a plea filed by Joy Kaitharath of Thrissur citing the delay in registering a case.
“This is a case where in the director and the additional chief secretary are stooping before the accused. It is not clear whether it is as per the directives of the government. That cannot be expected from the government as well as the director. The director washes his hands by addressing the additional chief secretary. This is not the way in which the matter ought to have been treated by the director,” the court said.
When noticing the attitude adopted by the two officials, there was everything to suspect the interference of the higher-ups. “The right to good governance is a fundamental right and that is now being denied by the VACB, the government agency, to the citizens of this country, through their irresponsible way of doing things,” the court observed.
