Who silenced vigilance court in Kerala scam imbroglio?

A special vigilance court in Thrissur issued three high profiled probe orders during the last two weeks. Noticeably, one was against state excise minister K Babu in connection with bar bribery case and the other two were against chief minister Oommen Chandy and power minister Aryadan Mohammed in connection with solar scam.

After the vigilance court directed probe orders against the ministers, the government found itself to be in deep trouble during the last two weeks. The orders issued by special vigilance court judge S S Vasan were terse and damning.

However, Vasan was slated to face music from high court for ordering probe cabinet ministers. Freezing probe orders on Chandy and Aryadan on February 1, Justice P Ubaid of high court criticised that vigilance court judge did not follow legal principles while ordering probe against them. Before that Justice Ubaid had also suspended the probe on Babu too on January 28.

Soon after that, a seemingly disappointed Vasan sought voluntary retirement from service and remained tightlipped on the reasons that prompted him to seek discharge. However reportedly after interventions by senior jurists in high court, Vasan decided to continue in office.

On Friday (February 5), the vigilance court judge made a stupendous comeback by questioning the state government’s failure in taking legal steps against Saritha who, according to the government, have been heaping corruption charges against it for the last two years.

Vasan asked why the government did not initiate legal steps against Saritha if the statements made by her in connection with solar scam were lies. The vigilance court made the remark on Friday while considering a complaint against E P Jayarajan and Saritha. The complaint was lodged by a group of Congress siding lawyers.

After issuing a directive to register FIR against excise minister K Babu on January 23, Vasan grilled the state Vigilance and Anti-corruption Bureau (VACB) for the delay in submitting Quick Verification report (QVR) in relation with the bar scam case. Vasan also asked Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau (VACB) if it had examined Babu’s house and assets for verifying the presence of alleged bribe amount within his personal capacity.

Later on January 28, after examining social activist – P D Joseph’s petition against Chandy and Aryadan in connection with the solar scam, the vigilance court judge ordered VACB to register FIR against the two. The petition alleged Chandy and Aryadan of taking bribe from the key accused in Solar scam – Saritha S Nair.

Though Additional Legal Advisor (ALA) for vigilance raised objection against the probe order, Vasan rejected the objection.

Vasan observed that law cannot exempt anyone and everybody including prime minister or chief ministers are liable for prosecution if found guilty.

Ordering FIR on Aryadan and Chandy, Vasan also remarked that “Extraordinary situations demand extraordinary orders.”

Nevertheless, Chandy and Aryadan soon secured a two month respite from VACB investigation as high court shelved the vigilance court order by judge Vasan. 

Also Read;

Upcoming Suresh Gopi-Shaji Kailas movie on solar scam hits road block