Clean chit for V D Satheesan in Punarjani irregularities, case closed due to lack of evidence, says Home Minister

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said the home vigilance department has decided to close the case against Chief Minister V D Satheesan registered by the previous government over allegations related to the Punarjani project. The vigilance director had submitted a report recommending to drop V D Satheesan from the case, as the vigilance probe ordered by the previous government in connection with the Punarjani project failed to find any evidence against him. Based on this report, V D Satheesan has been given a clean chit. The home minister also clarified that the investigation has proved that Satheesan had not committed any offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The vigilance report had concluded that the then opposition leader had no role in the alleged irregularities in the fund collection for the Punarjani project. This was stated in a letter submitted by the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) to the Vigilance Director in September 2025. The report said that investigators were unable to find any evidence that money had been transferred to V D Satheesan's bank account.

The letter also said that no investigation was conducted into allegations that Satheesan had purchased property after his foreign visit, as no such allegation was made in the original complaint. It further stated that the Punarjani funds were managed by the Manappad Foundation, a voluntary organisation, and that there was no evidence to find that Satheesan had handled the funds.

Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said the chief minister was not given a clean chit because there had been a change in government. He said the allegations were baseless and that the decision not to proceed with the case was taken based on the recommendation of the vigilance director. The home minister made the remarks while speaking to the media.