KOCHI: A petition has been filed before the Kerala High Court seeking a CBI probe into the alleged corruption to the tune of several crores of rupees in the Kerala State Cashew Workers Apex Industrial Co-operative Society Ltd (Capex). The court has sought the view of the state government on the petition.
The petitioner, Kadakampally Manoj, of Kollam, submitted only a Central agency like the CBI can conduct a fair and proper investigation, particularly because the transaction of the society is beyond the territorial limits of India. During the past five years, serious corruption and irregularities have been taking place in Capex, a public sector undertaking. The entity had incurred a loss of over `100 crore in the past five years, the plea stated. The petitioner had filed a complaint before the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB), following which a preliminary inquiry was ordered.
The probe revealed materials to register an FIR in the case, but it never happened. The registration of FIR was stalled owing to an order by the VACB director that it can be registered only on getting sanction from him.
The petitioner submitted this was against the provisions of Code of Criminal Procedure and the decision of Supreme Court in the Lalitha Kumari’s case. The order had the effect of rewriting the law on the point and it was impermissible in law. The government and its officials are adopting a partisan attitude with a view to help those involved in corruption. Hence, no fair and proper investigation can be expected from the state, the petition stated.