KOCHI: The state Police and Vigilance Departments might have felt Thursday even more sweltering after the Kerala High Court made some stinging observations about their style of functioning.
Police dept
A Single Bench criticised the investigating officer while granting bail to P Krishnadas, chairman of the Nehru Group of Institutions.
“It is clear the police deliberately chalked out a plan to arrest Krishnadas. Some persons are made witnesses as well as complainants. When the FIR was registered, only bailable offences were included in it. But after the arrest, non-bailable offences were included and the police submitted a report before the magistrate. This act of the police is a clear violation of the Supreme Court order - no one should be arrested without sufficient evidence,” the court said.
“There is failure on the part of the police in the probe. The court has already restrained Krishnadas from entering the college. So, the contention of the police that Krishnadas may destroy evidence is unsustainable,” the court said.
VACB
The HC directed government to inform it whether Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau has got exclusive powers/authority for investigation under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The state government on Thursday told the Kerala High Court a separate Vigilance division was established for effective investigation of cases of corruption and misconduct involving public servants, by an order dated December 21, 1964.
The government in its statement said the VACB is a specialised agency constituted to curb corrupt activities by public servants.
“The Vigilance and Anti-corruption Bureau (VACB) takes up investigation of cases registered under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and conducts inquiry into alleged misconduct and misdemeanour by public servants. The procedure and working of the Vigilance Department was prescribed as per the Vigilance manual and government order issued in 1992,” said the statement.
“The Bureau conducts investigation into offense/allegations, including those punishable under the PC Act, dishonest/improper conduct or abuse of power, gross negligence or dereliction of duty and misuse of public money or property. The VACB functions on the basis of the Vigilance manual and government orders issued from time to time apart from provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure,” it stated.
The bitter PIL?
Kochi: There is a growing belief that several persons are filing cases before Vigilance to settle personal scores. A lawyer said the litigants were getting financial aid for filing complaints. During the argument in a petition filed by Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala, counsel for the petitioner informed there were around 6,000 complaints pending before Vigilance. Legal experts said as per the Indian Penal Code, a case can be registered against a person who files a frivolous complaint.
ASI suspended
Thrissur: Thrissur Range IG M R Ajith Kumar on Thursday suspended Njanasekharan, Pazhayannoor ASI, for leaving loopholes in the FIR of the case pertaining to the assault on a student of Nehru Academy of Law which helped Krishnadas.
Krishnadas gets bail
Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Thursday granted bail to P Krishnadas, chairman, Nehru Group of Institutions, in the case pertaining to assaulting a student of the Nehru Academy of Law, Palakkad. The court asked the petitioner to execute a bond of `1 lakh and two solvent sureties of similar amount.
AICTE approval for TOMS
Kottayam: Providing a breather for embattled Toms College of Engineering management, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has given Extension of Approval (EoA) to the college for the academic year 2017-18.