KOZHIKODE: The Thalassery Vigilance Court on Tuesday ordered a preliminary investigation against Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Minister K. Babu and former chief secretary Jiji Thomson in a case relating to the irregularities in felling trees as part of the construction of the Kannur international airport project. The complaint was filed by K.V. James of Iritty on April 15.
The Thalassery Vigilance Court considered the case relating to the irregularities in felling trees as part of the construction of the Kannur international airport project on May 5 and the complaint was forwarded to DySP VACB, Kannur, for a quick verification of the allegations. The report should be filed by June 17.
The lawyer of James told DC that the respondent was a beneficiary of the rubber trees in the acquired land for the airport, as he had taken possession of the trees on contract for tapping. Though James had approached the High Court seeking compensation, the case was dropped midway.
He later filed the complaint at the Thalassery court saying that there was corruption in acquiring the land and felling the trees, which cost around Rs 30 crore to the state exchequer. KIAL MD V. Chandramouli, additional chief secretary V.J. Kurien, principal secretaries V.P. Joy and Tom Jose, former KINFRA MD Ramnath, L&T manager Sajinlal among other officials will fall within the purview of the investigation.
According to James, the irregularities were committed with the knowledge of the CM and minister Babu, who was in charge of the project. Earlier, the then North Zone ADGP N. Shankar Reddy, who conducted a probe, had confirmed the irregularities.
