CMRL Pay-Off Case: Kerala HC Suo Motu Impleads & Issues Notice To CM Pinarayi Vijayan,His Daughter & Others In Revision Petition Against Dismissal Of Complaint
The Kerala High Court today suo moto impleaded and issued notice to the respondents in a revision petition filed by (deceased) Gireesh Babu that sought investigation into the alleged bribery carried out by high-ranking public officials of the State including the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter- Veena Thaikandiyil, and her company Exalogic Solutions Pvt. ltd. (1st and 7th...
The Kerala High Court today suo moto impleaded and issued notice to the respondents in a revision petition filed by (deceased) Gireesh Babu that sought investigation into the alleged bribery carried out by high-ranking public officials of the State including the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter- Veena Thaikandiyil, and her company Exalogic Solutions Pvt. ltd. (1st and 7th accused respectively), of having received illegal consideration under the guise of her father in connection with the mining and other business interests of the Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL).
The revision petition was filed against dismissal of complaint by the Court of the Enquiry Commissioner and Special Judge (Vigilance), Muvattupuzha.
The Court observed that if notice is not issued to parties who are arrayed as accused, then it would go against the recent decision of the Supreme Court.
“Notice to the parties arrayed as accused, suo moto impleaded and ordered notice”, Justice K Babu ordered today.
Apart from the above, other public servants such as the leader of the Opposition and Congress MLA Ramesh Chennithala, MLA Kunhalikutty, former Minister for Public Works V.K. Ibrahim Kunju, and A. Govindan have also been named as other accused in the matter for having received illegal gratification; while CMRL, its Managing Director Sathivilas Narayan Kartha Sasidharan Kartha (9th accused), the Chief Financial Officer K.S. Suresh Kumar (10th accused), and the Chief General Manager of Finance and Company Secretary P. Suresh Kumar are alleged to have given out bribes for illegal gratification.
Earlier the Court had orally noted that it cannot order a probe against the Chief Minister unless the allegations against him disclose a prima facie offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The Court had also appointed Advocate Akhil Vijay as the Amicus Curiae in the last hearing.
The Vigilance Court had dismissed his complaint on finding that there was no prima facie case, but only general allegations made.
Case Title: Gireesh Babu v. State of Kerala & Anr.
Case Number: Crl. Rev. Pet. 890/ 2023