The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) on Monday submitted before the Kerala High Court that going by the nature of the case, ‘it appears that the offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act may not lie’ against former Industries Minister E.P. Jayarajan.
Following this, the court asked the VACB to state in clear terms whether the offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act would stand against Mr. Jayarajan in a case relating to the appointment of his relative as managing director (MD) of the Kerala State Industrial Enterprises (KSIE).
An FIR was registered against Mr. Jayarajan and his relative P.K. Sudheer for offence (criminal misconduct) under Section 13(1) (d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The allegation was that the accused had committed criminal misconduct by colluding with each other and hatching a conspiracy to appoint a near relative of the former Minister as MD of the KSIE, in total violation of the selection procedure.