KOTTAYAM: The Court of Enquiry Commissioner and Special Judge (Vigilance Court), Kottayam, has given an extension of 15 days for the Vigilance and Anti-corruption Bureau (VACB) to submit its preliminary enquiry report into the allegation that former Transport Minister Thomas Chandy reclaimed wetland to construct a road violating the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, 2008.
Earlier, Vigilance judge V Dilip had directed the VACB director to submit its inquiry report before December 4. However, when the case came up before the court on Monday, the Vigilance authorities informed the court inquiry has been completed and the report was sent for the verification of the Vigilance director.The court admitted the Vigilance’s request for a 15-day extension. Following this, the case was posted to December 19.
The preliminary inquiry was conducted under the aegis of Vigilance SP M Johnson and the report was prepared by DySP S Suresh Kumar.The inquiry was ordered on the basis of a complaint filed by M K Subhash, district secretary of Janatha Dal (S), Alappuzha. The preliminary inquiry was in connection with the construction of Valiyakulam-Zero Jetty Road, which leads to Chandy’s Lake Palace Resort in Alappuzha. According to the complainant, Chandy constructed the road utilising the MP fund, causing a loss of `65 lakh to the public exchequer.