Vigilance orders probe in appointment row

Thiruvananthapuram: The Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau (VACB) has ordered a preliminary probe into certain controversial appointments of relatives of Industries Minister E P Jayarajan in key posts in state public sector undertakings.

The bureau informed this to the Special Court here which was hearing a private petition seeking registration of an FIR and ordering of a probe into the alleged appointments.
However, VACB Additional Prosecutor contented that the petition was purely based on newspaper clippings and that they were only secondary evidence.

The Judge then posted the case to October 17 for further hearing.

The complaint in the court had sought filing of an FIR and registration of case against Jayarajan, who had allegedly appointed some relatives to key posts in state PSUs.

Jayarajan had appointed P K Sudheer, his nephew and son of CPI(M) Kannur MP P K Sreemathi, as the Managing Director of Kerala State Industrial Enterprises Ltd, it was alleged.

It was also alleged that some relatives of party leaders were also given key posts in PSUs.

The Special Court (Vigilance) had directed the bureau to file its reply by today on a complaint with regard to the alleged appointments.

With opposition Congress and BJP targeting it on the issue, the LDF government had yesterday decided to bring in a law to prevent nepotism in appointments in key positions in PSUs in the state.

The cabinet had also entrusted Chief Secretary S M Vijayanand to examine various complaints with regard to any appointments.

The complaint filed in the Vigilance court contended that nepotism amounted to corruption. It also wanted registration of a case under Prevention of Corruption act.