Court for FIR against Kerala CM and minister

Oommen Chandy refuses to resign

A vigilance court here on Thursday ordered the vigilance director to file an FIR and conduct an inquiry against Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy and power minister Arayadan Muhammed on a petition alleging that they have taken bribes of Rs 1.9 crore and Rs 40 lakh, respectively, from solar scam accused Saritha S. Nair. A similar order against state excise minister K. Babu in the bar bribery case had led to his resignation last week.

The order came as a jolt to the Congress-led UDF government in Kerala and set off demands by the Opposition CPI(M) for their resignations. The BJP in Kerala, meanwhile, demanded dissolution of the state Assembly and asked Mr Chandy to face polls immediately.

Mr Chandy ruled out resigning and said he and Mr Arayadan were prepared to face any probe. “I have not done anything wrong. My conscience is clear on that...,” he said, adding he would soon hold talks with the UDF coalition partners.

Thursday’s developments are expected to see a stormy Budget Session of the state legislature when it begins on February 5. Mr Chandy, who took over the finance portfolio after the resignation of K.M. Mani in the bar case, is scheduled to present the state budget on February 12.

The court also ordered the registration of cases against Saritha S. Nair for offering bribes, and against five others, including former forests minister K.B. Ganesh Kumar and his secretary, Mr Tenny Joppen and Jikumon, former personal staff members of the CM, and Mr P.A. Kesavan, private secretary to Mr Aryadan, for their alleged involvement in the scam.

“I am not supposed to make any comments with regard to the merits of the case and I have not made any comments. I have to bear in mind Article 14 of the Constitution. Be it a village man or the chief minister, the law is equal for all public servants. Therefore the complaint is forwarded to Director VACB (Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau) for investigation under Sec. 156(3), CrPC,” S.S. Vassan, inquiry commissioner and special judge (vigilance), Thrissur, said in his order.

The order also says that if the averments in the complaint are true, they constitute cognisable offences and that the police and vigilance department have the power to start investigations.

“But the complainant states that the police will not investigate since respondents one and two are occupying exalted positions in the administration,” said the court order.

The court has sought the final vigilance report on April 11, 2016. Petitioner P.D. Joseph submitted before the court the CD of the allegations made by Saritha S. Nair and the news reports of four Malayalam dailies.