VACB to probe Wayanad land conversion bid

The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) will probe the reported bid to convert government land into private land in Wayanad with the involvement of Revenue officials and CPI leaders, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said.

Replying to a notice on an adjournment motion by V.D. Satheesan following a television channel expose about a land conversion bid involving CPI Wayanad district secretary Vijayan Cherukara and Revenue officials, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said in the Assembly on Tuesday that the VACB would also probe the case in addition to the inquiry of the Land Revenue Commissioner.

“Mr. Vijayan Cherukara has also said that he was ready to face any probe in this regard. The government would not brook graft and would take stringent action against the corrupt,” the Chief Minister said.

Mr. Satheesan alleged that the CPI district leadership and the Revenue officials first identified a ‘no man’s land’ adjacent to a private land and converted it using political and bureaucratic clout. He came down heavily on the CPI, which, he said, was claiming to be a corrective force and was involving in such corrupt practices.

He reminded how CPI Ministers had abstained themselves from a Cabinet meeting in protest against the delay in taking action against former Transport Minister Thomas Chandy who had faced land grabbing charges. He accused the CPI State and district leadership of colluding with the corrupt for land conversion.

Revenue Minister E. Chandrasekharan said that stringent action had already been taken against the officials involved and the CPI leadership had promised action against the accused party men after an inquiry. There was a bid to create a smokescreen and tarnish the image of the Revenue Department, the CPI and the government, especially in the run-up to the Chengannur Assembly byelection, he said.

Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala demanded a judicial probe into the issue and said that the Cabinet had no collective responsibility. Kerala Congress (M) leader K.M. Mani and BJP legislator O. Rajagopal too demanded a judicial probe into the issue. Based on the government’s explanation, Speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan denied notice for the motion and the entire Opposition walked out in protest.