Cashew corruption case: Kerala Govt amends order, withdraws remarks against High Court

KOCHI: The Kerala government has issued a fresh order in the ₹80-crore cashew import corruption case. This directive removes controversial remarks against the High Court from an earlier order. The previous order had granted sanction to prosecute the accused. Industries Department Secretary K. Biju issued the revised order on Monday. The new document preserves the government's right to approach the Supreme Court.

In its initial order issued on July 2, the government had alleged that the High Court was functioning like a trial court and claimed that the state was being forced to grant the prosecution sanction. That order had also noted that the permission to put the accused on trial was being given while maintaining the government's right to file an appeal.

Terming these remarks as contempt of court, the petitioner in the case, Kadakampally Manoj, filed a sub-petition seeking action against Industries Secretary K. Biju. Following this legal challenge, the government submitted the revised order to the High Court, which is scheduled to be considered by a bench led by Justice A. Badharudeen.

During the previous High Court hearing on July 2, the government had informed the bench of its decision to grant the prosecution sanction but requested additional time to bring clarity to the official order.

The High Court is currently considering a contempt of court petition against the former Principal Secretary of the Industries Department, A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish, after the department denied prosecution sanction three times in the past. K. Biju has since taken over the charge of the Cashew Department.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) found serious irregularities and misappropriation of funds amounting to ₹80 crore in the import of raw cashew nuts between 2006 and 2015. The primary accused in the corruption case are R. Chandrasekharan, former chairman of the corporation and leader of the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), and K.A. Ratheesh, the former managing director.