Kerala’s Vigilance, controlled by the CPI(M)-led lDF Government, on Tuesday told the High Court that it wanted to close the sensational case pertaining to the nepotism charges against CPI(M) central committee member EP Jayarajan, who was in October last forced to resign as Industries minister over the charge of appointing a close relative in a key position in a State PSU.
The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau, which itself had registered an FIR against Jayarajan on the basis of the findings from its own quick verification, had the other day told the court that the case against him could not come under the purview of the Prevention of Corruption Act as nobody had made any pecuniary gains from the alleged nepotistic appointment.
The agency told the court that it wanted to close the case against Jayarajan and other accused as it had come to the conclusion that there was no substance in the complaints against them. The Government lawyer said that no criminal offence was detected against Jayarajan or the other accused.
Jayarajan resigned on October 14 last as Industries Minister after the eruption of the nepotism scandal. He was accused of appointing PK Sudheer Nambiar, son of his sister-in-law PK Sreemathi, another CPI(M) central committee member, as managing director of the Kerala State Industrial Enterprises (KSIEl) when he was in charge of the department.
His resignation was the first major blow the lDF Government headed by Marxist CM Pinarayi Vijayan suffered since it assumed office in May, 2016.
However, the party claimed high moral stature stating that it had ordered the senior party leader to vacate his position in the Cabinet immediately a serious allegation was leveled against him.
The case against Jayarajan was initiated when DGP Jacob Thomas IPS, seen as an upright official, was Vigilance Director. The decision to close the case has been taken by the agency now when its Director is loknath Behera IPS, who was shifted to it from the position of DGP (law and Order) when TP Senkumar returned to that position as per a Supreme Court order.
According to the Vigilance, there was no ground for proceeding against Jayarajan or Sudheer Nambiar as the charge might not against under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act as they had not obtained any pecuniary advantages. Also, the appointment, for which a letter was issued on October 1 last, was cancelled within four days.
However, the court came down heavily on the Vigilance for its alleged lapses. The court, which taunted the agency by asking whether it was a super power in the State, advised it not to register FIRs under the influence of public sentiments. Despite the Vigilance’s request for permission to close the case, the court will take it up on June 6.
Asking the agency whether it had the authority to revise the Cabinet’s decisions, the court reminded the Vigilance that it was just a part of the police and that the Vigilance Manual was connected to the Criminal Procedure Code. The agency should remember that even the Governor’s powers were limited, it said.
However, Vigilance Director Behera said that his agency was working entirely legally. Stating that he was not in the agency when the case against Jayarajan came up, Behera said he did not want to respond to the High Court’s observations.
