Thiruvananthapuram: Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has given sanction to investigate into the allegations of corruption against former PWD minister V K Ebrahim Kunju in the Palarivattom flyover scam. The decision will help end vigilance’s three-month wait to probe the role of former PWD minister in the scam.
The vigilance had in October last year sought the clearance of the state government to carry out an investigation into Ebrahim Kunju’s role in the flyover scam. Following this, the state government sought the governor’s permission and handed over the vigilance letter to the Raj Bhavan.
“As per new regulation from the Supreme Court, the sanction of a governor is required to carry out an investigation against former ministers. The prosecution permission is given only after the investigation is complete and the FIR is registered,” the governor’s office said.
The governor had sought legal opinion from the advocate general before taking a decision. Now the vigilance can go ahead with the investigation against Ebrahim Kunju. Kerala high court had earlier given permission to vigilance to probe into the former minister’s role in the alleged irregularities in the construction.
Ebrahim Kunju was under the scanner for allotting funds to the bridge builder way above the permissible limit. The vigilance wanted the former minister’s role probed as he had issued the order to give advance funds for the construction. The vigilance is also of the view that Ebrahim Kunju could not shy away from the responsibility in the alleged conspiracy. Former PWD secretary T O Sooraj, who was arrested for his involvement in the scam, had also raised allegations against the former minister.
The vigilance report said an amount of Rs 8.25 crore was paid as advance to the company at a meagre interest of 7%. This resulted in a yearly loss of Rs 57 lakh to the state government.
The flyover was opened to public in 2016. However, after cracks were detected on the pillars, various agencies had pointed out the inadequacies in the construction and it was closed for traffic in May 2019. A probe was subsequently launched to look into the likely irregularities that led to the faulty construction.
The probe was also extended to examine the role of certain political leaders in the scam. T O Sooraj, Sumit Goel, managing director of RDS Projects Ltd which constructed the flyover, and M T Thankachan, former additional general manager of RBDCK, were arrested earlier in connection with the scam and granted bail with strict conditions last year.
The vigilance had in October last year sought the clearance of the state government to carry out an investigation into Ebrahim Kunju’s role in the flyover scam. Following this, the state government sought the governor’s permission and handed over the vigilance letter to the Raj Bhavan.
“As per new regulation from the Supreme Court, the sanction of a governor is required to carry out an investigation against former ministers. The prosecution permission is given only after the investigation is complete and the FIR is registered,” the governor’s office said.
The governor had sought legal opinion from the advocate general before taking a decision. Now the vigilance can go ahead with the investigation against Ebrahim Kunju. Kerala high court had earlier given permission to vigilance to probe into the former minister’s role in the alleged irregularities in the construction.
Ebrahim Kunju was under the scanner for allotting funds to the bridge builder way above the permissible limit. The vigilance wanted the former minister’s role probed as he had issued the order to give advance funds for the construction. The vigilance is also of the view that Ebrahim Kunju could not shy away from the responsibility in the alleged conspiracy. Former PWD secretary T O Sooraj, who was arrested for his involvement in the scam, had also raised allegations against the former minister.
The vigilance report said an amount of Rs 8.25 crore was paid as advance to the company at a meagre interest of 7%. This resulted in a yearly loss of Rs 57 lakh to the state government.
The flyover was opened to public in 2016. However, after cracks were detected on the pillars, various agencies had pointed out the inadequacies in the construction and it was closed for traffic in May 2019. A probe was subsequently launched to look into the likely irregularities that led to the faulty construction.
The probe was also extended to examine the role of certain political leaders in the scam. T O Sooraj, Sumit Goel, managing director of RDS Projects Ltd which constructed the flyover, and M T Thankachan, former additional general manager of RBDCK, were arrested earlier in connection with the scam and granted bail with strict conditions last year.
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