The ruling Left Democratic Front in Kerala is frantically trying to drag the Congress-led united democratic front’s chief ministerial candidate, Mr Oommen Chandy, in the palmoil corruption case ahead of the crucial Assembly polls in the state.
The latest move came on Monday when the superintendent of police of the Vigilance and Anti Corruption Cell gave a statement before the court saying that in 2005, Mr Chandy, who was chief minister, said at a press conference that he knew all about palmoil deal.
Citing Mr Chandy’s 2005 statement, the prosecution pressed for further probe in the case. After hearing their plea, vigilance special judge S. Jagadeesh posted the case for orders to March 14.
The LDF government had on February 26 filed a petition before the court seeking further probe in the case.
The move is seen as an apparent attempt to target Mr Chandy, who was finance minister in the K. Karunakaran government which cleared the deal in 1992. Mr Chandy’s name came up in the discharge petition filed recently by then food minister and Congress leader T.H. Mustafa, an accused in the case.
In his plea, Mr Mustafa said that the decision to spare Mr Chandy from the case was fair but same fairness had not been shown to him. Mr Mustafa’s petition was grabbed by the LDF to attack Mr Chandy.