Chandy not to go for appeal in palmolein oil import case

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Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today said he would not appeal against the Vigilance Court order for a probe into his alleged role in the palmolein oil import case.

"I will not do anything that will hamper the investigation process," Chandy told reporters after a Cabinet meeting.

Chandy, however, declined to comment on the demand of CPI(M)-led Opposition LDF for his resignation in the wake of the court directing the Vigilance and Anti-corruption Bureau to probe whether he had any role in the deal pertaining to import of palmolein in 1992 when he was Finance Minister in the K. Karunakaran Government.

He also rejected the Opposition's allegation that the vigilance probe would not be impartial as long as he (Chandy) continued to be the Chief Minister.

"The Congress party and UDF do not approve of any kind of protest against the judiciary in view of the court's direction for the probe," Chandy said, when asked about the protest march by youth Congress workers in front of a court in Thrissur.

Chandy had yesterday relinquished charge of the Vigilance Department and handed over the same to Revenue Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan.

A Special Vigilance Court had on August 8 rejected the report filed by investigators three months back, stating there was no need for a further probe to add any more person to the list of the accused in the case, which alleged that palmolein import had caused the state a loss of Rs 2.32 crores.

Chandy, who assumed office on May 18 leading the UDF to victory in the Assembly polls, had offered to step down from the post of the Chief Minister in the wake of the court order, but he was dissuaded by leaders of the Congress and UDF constituents.