Thiruvananthapuram: A vigilance court here on Tuesday sought remarks of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) on a petition alleging that former vigilance director Shankar Reddy suppressed petitions seeking probe into the solar scam. Considering a private plea, the Enquiry Commissioner and Special Court (Vigilance) directed the VACB to submit its remarks within a week. The case was posted to November 5.
The petitioner, Paichira Navas, alleged that Shanker Reddy suppressed a set of petitions seeking action against then chief minister Oommen Chandy and power minister Aryadan Mohammed on the basis of solar scam accused Saritha S. Nair's claim that she bribed the two. However, sources familiar with the development said that the vigilance could not act on the petitions since the High Court had stayed a directive of the Thrissur vigilance court to register a case on a similar petition.
Subsequent to Ms Nair's statement before the Solar Commission on January 27, a petition was filed at the Thrissur vigilance court and the court ordered registration of a case against Mr Chandy and Mr Mohammed. But the high court stayed the order the very next day. Hence the then vigilance director did not act upon similar petitions he received. Meanwhile, the vigilance special court on Tuesday directed the VACB that the remarks should be filed either by vigilance director or any investigating officer. It may be recalled that a report submitted by an administrative assistant of VACB in a case on alleged sabotage of the bar bribery probe was scrapped by the High Court the other day.
