KOCHI: The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB), Ernakulam District Unit, has registered a case against Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO), Muvattupuzha, and Periyar Valley Irrigation Project (PVIP) assistant executive engineer for permitting a plywood company to fill up paddy field and pond for setting up a factory illegally at Kottapady in 2013. The case was registered following a directive from the Vigilance Court, Muvattupuzha.
The Vigilance Court had last year ordered the VACB to conduct quick verification into the incident. Based on the report, it was directed to register a case and conduct a detailed probe. The case has been registered against the then Muvattupuzha RDO and the Assistant Executive engineer, PVIP Sub-Division No 1, Bhoothathakettu, as well as George Mathew, former owner of Five State Plywood Company, Kottapady; Hameed, the present owner of Five Start Plywood Company and his wife Misri.
As per the FIR, the then Muvattupuzha RDO had misused his powers to grant permission to George Mathew for filling up paddy fields coming under the survey numbers 26/1A-1 and 26/14 without taking into consideration the plot nearby (survey no: 26/14) was a pond, for constructing the factory. Later, the modified operation order was granted to the present owners Hameed and wife Misri by excluding survey 26/14 with the intention to give them undue pecuniary advantage.
“The PVIP assistant executive engineer, despite being a public servant, conspired with the other accused and gave a false report to the Kottapady grama panchayat by concealing information about the encroachment of government land by George Mathew,” the FIR stated. It was based on a complaint by E J Poulose, Erumala House, Thrikkariyoor, Kothamangalam, the Vigilance Court had directed the VACB to conduct quick verification and subsequent registration of the case.