T’PURAM/KOCHI : Based on the Kottayam Vigilance Court order, the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau on Wednesday ordered a preliminary enquiry against Transport Minister Thomas Chandy for allegations of encroaching land. Kottayam Vigilance SP Thomson Jose will probe it and Vigilance Director Loknath Behera has instructed him to complete the investigation and submit the report in 30 days.
Earlier, the state government was hauled over the coals by the Kerala High Court for adopting delaying tactics in investigating Chandy’s alleged involvement in encroachment of government land. ‘’Wouldn’t you have demolished immediately if there was an encroachment by a common man,’’ the court asked. Stating the ‘law is equal for all’, the bench asked why a common man in a similar situation should be treated differently.
It made the observation while hearing a petition filed by CPI’s T N Mukundan of Thrissur seeking a case to be registered against Chandy and other directors of Waterworld Tourism Private Ltd for the alleged encroachment of government land and reclaiming backwater land in Alappuzha.
Law will take its course
Kozhikode: Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said the LDF would not support anyone who had committed wrongdoings.
Under pressure following the High Court remarks against Minister Thomas Chandy, the Left Front may soon sit together to take a call on the issue. Left leaders indicated the issue cannot be delayed for long and LDF would sort it out soon after the one-day Assembly session on Thursday. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has been maintaining a steady silence in the issue.
Despite CPI’s pressure to take action on the Alappuzha District Collector’s report, Pinarayi opted for the Advocate General’s advice. Even after the High Court remarks on Wednesday, he did not respond to the media. While it was CPI which first sought action against Chandy, now CPM too has started feeling the issue is getting out of hand. It’s understood at the CPM state secretariat meet on Monday, a couple of leaders opined Chandy should step down in view of the Vigilance Court order. However, Pinarayi indicated at waiting for the AG’s advice.