KOCHI: Though there were several corruption cases against former ministers in Kerala, all of them have gone scot- free as the cases were either withdrawn or pending in the Supreme Court.
In the Graphite case, former minister R Balakrishna Pillai was charged with irregularities in the sale of electricity from the State to Karnataka- based Graphite Industries while he was the Electricity Minister during 1984-87.
The Supreme Court acquitted him in the first module and the UDF government led by A K Antony withdrew the second and third modules on the basis of a request from Balakrishna Pillai.
Pillai was also involved in the corruption case related to the construction of the power tunnel of the Idamalayar Hydro-electric Project. The Special Court convicted Pillai in this case. But he filed an appeal in the Supreme Court which is pending now. Former Minister T M Jacob was accused in the Muvattupuzha Valley Irrigation Project case alleging that the State lost Rs 2.5 crore by introducing a new system called ‘contractors’ own material’ for the Muvattupuzha Valley Irrigation Project.
The Vigilance closed the investigation against Jacob stating that the case was registered on the basis of ‘mistake of facts.’ In the Kuriyarkutti-Karappara case against T M Jacob, it was alleged that he conspired with contractors and awarded works of the Moolathara Right Bank canal without inviting tenders while he was the Irrigation Minister during 1991-96 period.
He was acquitted by the High Court and an appeal is pending in the Supreme Court.
In the Brahmapuram case, former minister C V Padmarajan awarded the contract for purchase of generators for the Brahmapuram diesel power plant to French firm SEMT Pieltick without inviting tenders and the State suffered a loss of Rs 80 crore as the French firm violated conditions.
The Vigilance filed chargesheet in the Thrissur Special Court and the proceedings were held-up owing to procedural lapses cited by the High Court.
There was a corruption case against K Karunakaran in connection with the import of Palmolein from Malaysia during 1991-92. Though the Vigilance had filed chargesheet, further proceedings were stayed as a case pertaining to sanction for prosecution is under the consideration of the Supreme Court.