The High Court on Monday dismissed as withdrawn a petition filed by P J Thomas, former Central Vigilance Commissioner and an accused in the palmolein import corruption case, seeking to quash the case.
Justice S S Satheesachandran granted permission to Thomas to withdraw the petition, granting liberty to the petitioner to move the appropriate forum to seek whatever remedy available under law. The irregularities in the import of palmolein, had allegedly caused a loss of Rs 2.32 crore to the exchequer during 1991-92.
The petitioner was the then secretary of the Food and Civil Supplies Department. In his petition, he submitted that he was aggrieved by the continuation of the proceedings pending before the Thrissur Vigilance Special Judge. He pointed out that there is no legally valid government sanction to proceed against him under the Prevention of Corruption Act when the court had taken cognizance of the case. The sanction was given only for the proceedings under Section 120(b) of the IPC (criminal conspiracy). He said the then UDF Govt issued an order in 2005 withdrawing the prosecution in the case.