[1]The Vigilance court here on Tuesday ordered a vigilance inquiry into the likely roles played by finance minister K.M. Mani and government chief whip P.C. George in the controversial pledging of land by the Nelliyampathy estate owners.
This follows the filing of two public interest petitions on the land issue. Also, in Kochi, a law student moved the high court seeking sanction to move a contempt of court petition against George for some of his recent statements relating to Nelliyampathy and T.N. Prathapan MLA.
While considering public interest petitions filed by George Vattukulam, chairman of the Malayala Vedi and one P.D. Joseph, the court of vigilance judge and inquiry commissioner V. Bhaskaran directed Palakkad vigilance DySP S. Sateeshan to probe the matter and submit a report in four months’ time. The court also ordered investigations into the actions of the owners of Meera Floor, Cherunelly, Mankode, Thoothanpara and Rajakkad estates in connection with the case.
The petitioners alleged that Mani and George extended their help to the estate owners in renewing the lease deeds of the forest land which the former had been occupying. In addition, the two government functionaries also “provided out-of-the-way help to these estates” for further encroachment, pledging of forest land and possession of the title deeds-expired estates.
The petitioners also charged Mani with not initiating any action against the advocate general when he did not appear in the high court when the Nelliyampathy case came up. Also, while preparing the affidavit, the government pleader had ignored a detailed report by the forest department, charging the estate owners with violation of the lease agreement. The lapse helped the estate owners in the case, the two alleged.
Mani refuted the charges and said the truth would come out in the investigation.
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