Vigilance Court raps Chief Secretary S M Vijayanand in Sreelekha case

Thiruvananthapuram: The Vigilance Court came down heavily on Chief Secretary S.M. Vijayanand on Tuesday over the delay in taking a decision for a Vigilance probe against Intelligence chief R. Sreelekha. The court pointed out that though the Vigilance had recommended a probe against her, the government did not act. However, the chief secretary informed that the delay was due to the transfer of officials. However, the court expressed dissatisfaction with his reply.

Former transport commissioner Tomin Thachankary had recommended a probe against Ms Sreelekha for financial irregularities related to foreign trips, transfers and violation of service rules during her tenure as transport commissioner. The preliminary probe noticed that she had spent lakhs of rupees for the maintenance of a corporation road to her house from the road safety fund. The fund criteria do not permit to do the maintenance of corporation roads. The report suggested that it was a misuse of power.

Ms Sreelekha had taken leave to do a course in London in 2015. However, a probe found that she visited Austria, France, Germany, Bahrain and Dubai during the period. Going abroad without government’s permission was a violation of law. She had also ordered the renovation and installation of air conditioners in the Palakkad RT office and some joint RT offices. The works were later cancelled.