The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : `Enough evidence to prosecute former CPI(M) MLA'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 29, 2005

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

`Enough evidence to prosecute former CPI(M) MLA'

Special Correspondent

Investigating officials examined in payoffs case

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The former Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau S.P. Nitin Agarwal on Tuesday told the Special Judge here that as per the records seized from the liquor contractor Manichan there was evidence for prosecuting the former CPI(M) MLA Kadakampally Surendran for accepting illegal gratification from the contractor.

Mr. Agarwal stated this during his examination before the Special Judge M. S. Mohanachandran in the ongoing trial of the case in which the former MLA stands accused of accepting a bribe of Rs.50,000 from Manichan.

Transferred

Mr. Agarwal had filed the first information report (FIR) in the case and investigated it for five months till June 16, 2001, when he was transferred. He had questioned Manichan, among others. There were 17 accused named in the FIR, among whom there were no politicians.

He said that he had suggested to the Vigilance Director that Mr. Surendran's name also be added to the list of accused. The former MLA's name, however, did not figure in the list cleared by the Director.

Still scope

There was still scope for prosecuting a person though the Director took such a stand, Mr. Agarwal said. He had not filed a report as he could not complete the investigation in the given time. This was because he had other official responsibilities to perform.

The former S.P. VACB G. Rajasekharan Nair, who was examined next, stated that he had not recommended Mr. Surendran's prosecution. Mr. Nair, who took over the case from Mr. Agarwal on June 26, 2001, investigated it till September 29, 2002. He had questioned Balachandran, Manichan's accountant, among others.

Four more persons

He said he had suggested the inclusion of four more persons to the array of accused in the FIR. These persons' names were included on the basis of a direction from the Director. He had filed a report on the case before handing it over to his successor, Mr. Nair added.

The examination of the investigating officials would continue on Wednesday.

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