THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A Vigilance inquiry has been ordered against ADGP Intelligence and former Additional Director of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) Siby Mathews.
The Vigilance Inquiry Commissioner and Special Judge in Thiruvananthapuram S.Jagadish ordered the inquiry on Monday on the basis of a petition alleging irregularities by Siby Mathews in dealing with certain cases while he was holding the charge of Vigilance Director.
Sources said that it was for the first time in the state that a Vigilance inquiry was being ordered against a VACB former chief. The court directed the VACB to conduct a preliminary inquiry into the allegations raised in the petition and if the allegations were found prima facie true, a detailed probe should be conducted after registering a case. The court also directed that a report regarding the progress of inquiry should be submitted to the court within two months.
VACB former Legal Advisor K.C.Suresh, a head constable in VACB M.K.Baby, managing director of Wimrock Granites in Pathanmathitta Raju K.Thomas, owner of K.K.Rocks and Granites of Thiruvananthapuram Arun Varghese, owner of Mallelil Industries in Pathanamthitta Sreedevi and owner of G.K.Granites in Ernakulam George Kureekal are among the others arraigned as accused.
One of the allegations levelled against Siby Mathews is that he had shown undue favouritism to former VACB Legal Advisor Suresh by recommending him to the post of Special Prosecutor for the Brahmapuram Power Project corruption case. The petitioner also alleged that Siby Mathews had favoured the quarry owners by excluding them from Vigilance cases for tax evasion. Head constable M.K.Baby, a relative of Siby Mathews, was given posting to his convenience flouting norms, the petitioner alleged.
As many as 10 supporting documents were presented by the petitioner in the court. A document submitted by Vigilance Assistant Legal Advisor opposing the allegations was rejected by the court.