KOCHI, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: While he may be at the receiving end of an anti-corruption drive in the state, Abraham enjoys near legendary status among those tracking the capital market goings-on for his own crusades against corruption in high places.
The systematic manner in which he built a watertight case against Sahara Group chairman Subroto Roy during his 2008-2011 stint as full-time director at SEBI is now history.
One is not sure if many in Kerala have kept track of his unflinching pursuit of the Ambani brothers, Mukesh (for insider trading) and Anil (for diverting External Commercial Borrowings for buying equity in his own company) and Jignesh Shah of MCX.
A complaint was filed by Abraham in 2011 and which he pursued all the way to the PMO regarding irregularities in the Finance Ministry’s dealings with SEBI against Omita Paul, the then advisor to the then Finance Minister and now President of India Pranab Mukherjee, Bimal Julka, Additional Secretary; and Thomas Mathew, Joint Secretary. A probe is still on.
Naturally, Abraham never got an extension at SEBI. Even the then SEBI chairman C B Bhave never got an extension. Incumbent SEBI chairman U K Sinha has got two extensions - the first one, for two years, and the second time, one year, till March 1, 2017.
It’s not as if nobody in Kerala knows about all this. But not many want to be seen as vocal supporters of Abraham and enter the bad books of the Vigilance chief.
“It is poetic justice with an ironical touch that he has won a coveted award of international repute while he’s targeted back home. It is not some award that is being bestowed by a local organisation. It amounts to international recognition for anti-corruption activism,” said a senior bureaucrat.
…Back home, facing corruption slur
*2015: Activist Jomon Puthenpurackal approached the then Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson. Charge: K M Abraham has amassed wealth disproportionate to his income, which is turned down.
*Activist moves Thrissur Vigilance court, which is rejected. He next approaches the T’Puram Enquiry Commissioner and special judge; court orders a probe on October 7, 2016; report to be submitted within a month.
*Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau director Jacob Thomas orders the T’Puram Vigilance special cell SP to conduct quick verification.
*October 26: Search at Abraham’s house; next day Abraham files complaint against the state Vigilance chief before the Chief Minister.