Expressing displeasure at the pace of investigation being carried out by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) in land grab cases involving Salim Raj, the High Court on Friday directed the VACB to complete the probe within two months.
Appearing for the state, special government pleader Tom K Thomas submitted that the VACB has already initiated a probe based on a complaint filed by the Kadakampally Village Land Owners Action council much before Premchand R Nair and others had approached the High Court. The inquiry was entrusted with G L Ajith Kumar of the VACB. The pleader submitted that the inquiry officer has questioned 25 witnesses who resides on the disputed land. The VACB pointed out that several civil suits have been filed by persons in possession of the property, hence the outcome of the civil suits is also important for arriving at a final conclusion. The scope of the Vigilance probe is limited to the involvement of government officials into the case. The petitioners are also to be questioned, the VACB added.
During the hearing , the court asked the counsels about the actual price of the land. It was pointed out that the amount in the agreement was `50,000 per cent. The court observed that the amount is insufficient to buy a cent of land in Kerala.