THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Vigilance has given a clean chit to Fisheries and Cashew Development Minister J Mercykutty Amma in the cashew import case. The investigating agency in its report submitted before the vigilance court said there was no substance in the allegations. The Vigilance had submitted the quick verification report on allegations of irregularities of around Rs 10 crore in the import of raw cashew nuts by the KCDC.
The Vigilance said the Minister had good intentions and there was no irregularity in the import of cashew kernels. The kernels were imported only for opening the factories.
Apart from the Minister, quick verification was ordered against the Minister’s husband P Thulaseedhara Kurup, and former chairman of Capex and KSCDC managing director T F Xavier.
It was Congress MLA V D Satheesan who first raised the allegation in the Assembly. He alleged KSCDC and Capex had purchased cashew kernels at higher rates ignoring tenders quoting lower rates. This involved a corruption to the tune of Rs 6.87 crore in KSCDC and Rs 3.47 crore in Capex, he said.