The Kerala government has taken a retaliatory stance against Opposition Leader VD Satheesan, who has been exposing major scams allegedly involving the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government. The government has sanctioned a preliminary probe by the Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau (VACB) against Satheesan in connection with the Punarjani scheme in his constituency of Paravur.
The probe has been initiated based on a complaint filed by Jaison Panikulangara, a member of the Kathikudam Action Council, with the Chief Minister’s office. The complaint accuses Satheesan of soliciting foreign funds without proper permission, thereby violating rules and regulations. The Ernakulam unit of vigilance will conduct the investigation, and an official order in this regard will be issued shortly.
The focus of the inquiry will be on the accounts related to the funds collected from abroad and how the money was utilized. The alleged fund collection was conducted under the Punarjani scheme, which aimed to construct homes for flood victims. However, the complaint alleges that the funds were obtained unlawfully and that no houses were built using the money.
Prior to launching the probe, the government sought legal advice on the matter. It was determined that the Speaker’s permission was not required to initiate an investigation against Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) to scrutinize their activities in their respective constituencies.
Discussion about this post