Govt rejects opposition demand for removal of DGP

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Thursday rejected Congress-led UDF oppositions demand for removal of state Director General of Prosecution Manjeri Sreedharan Nair, against whom a complaint of financial irregularities had been registered in a court in Kozhikode.

Defending the decision to retain Nair, Vijayan said he is one of the leading criminal lawyers in the state and the case was based on a private complaint.

Giving details of the complaint, he said that Nair, as one of the directors of the Nilambur Institute of Medical Science, had signed along with the chairman of the institution for taking Rs five crore loan from a bank.

"He had signed in the capacity as one of the directors of the institute. The decision to apply for the loan was taken by the board of directors," Vijayan said while replying to a submission on the matter raised by opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala.

In a bid to corner the ruling LDF, Chennithala demanded to know how the government could appoint a person against whom a case had been registered for financial irregularities, as the state DGP.

Rejecting the opposition charges, Vijayan said it was natural that a court would consider a complaint when it comes before it.

"The complaint is now before the court for consideration. Nair is not an accused now,"the CM said adding that government had not committed any lapse in appointing him as DGP.

Taking up the matter, Chennithala said Nair should be kept away from the top post till the particular case is settled.

The leader alleged that the other board members of the Institute came to know about the liability of Rs five crore only when they received a recovery notice.

Chennithala also said Nairs continuation in the post was a setback to the judicial system in the state.