Thiruvananthapuram: The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau registered a case against Mr E.P. Jayarajan, former industry minister and CPM central committee member; P.K. Sudheer, son of another CC member P.K. Sreemathy and his nephew; and Mr Paul Antony, additional chief secretary (industries), in connection with the alleged nepotism in appointing Mr Sudheer as managing director of Kerala State Industrial Enterprises (KSIE).
Incidentally, the VACB, which is under Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, registered the case at a time when the CPM central committee meeting was in progress at Thiruvananthapuram. This is likely to trigger demands for disciplinary action against Mr Jayarajan and Ms Sreemathy.
According to the first-information report, the preliminary inquiry revealed that Mr Jayarajan, who is the first-accused, abused his official position and conspired with the second-accused Sudheer and third-accused Paul Antony. As a result, an order was issued on September 30, 2016 facilitating a Government Order on October 1 for appointing Mr Sudheer as managing director of KSIE. The decision had no public interest.
The charges invoked in the FIR are section 13 (1) (d) of Prevention of Corruption Act for...criminal misconduct by a public servant and fine as well as section 120 (b) of IPC for criminal conspiracy that can attract up to seven years’ imprisonment and fine.
It may be recalled that Mr Jayarajan had to quit the Cabinet after the Vigilance initiated a preliminary inquiry against him. The Vigilance filed the FIR on Friday as the extended time limit prescribed by the Vigilance special court here will end on Saturday.
The quick verification was ordered by the Vigilance director considering a bunch of petitions, including one by Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala. Apart from Mr Sudheer's appointment, the appointments of Mr Jayarajan's brother’s daughter-in-law Deepthi Nishad as general manager at Kerala Clays and Ceramics Products Limited, former chief minister E.K. Nayanar's grandson Sooraj Raveendra as MD of Kinfra Film and Video Park, CITU state president Anathalavattom Anandan's son Jeeva Anand as MD of Kinfra Apparel Park and CPM leader Koliakode Krishnan Nair's son Unnikrishnan as general manager of Kinfra also had kicked up a controversy.
According to the FIR, the Public Sector Restructuring and Internal Audit Board (RIAB) that conducted the selection process for the managing directors in public sector undertakings under the industry department and the selection list contained the names of one Manesh Prathap Singh and B. Jyothikumar for KSIE.
But on September 30, 2016, Mr Jayarajan issued an order to appoint his relative Sudheer as KSIE managing director with immediate effect without obtaining Vigilance clearance and ignoring persons in the select list submitted by the interview board. On the basis of this, the order appointing Mr Sudheer was issued with the knowledge of Mr Paul Antony on October 1.
“Jayarajan neither specified any reason for not appointing the candidates proposed by RIAB, nor mentioned anything regarding the reason for appointing Sudheer. Later, the order appointing Sudheer was cancelled on October 13, 2016 without specifying any reason,” said the FIR.
Vigilance special investigation unit -II DySP V. Shyam Kumar filed the FIR. The probe was conducted under the supervision of SP K. Jayakumar.
