Order to reinstate range officer arrested in corruption case, action with consent of forest minister

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Forest Minister A K Saseendran intervened in the procedures to reinstate Palode forest range officer arrested by the vigilance in a corruption case. The order to reinstate range officer Sudheesh Kumar was issued in a hurry so that he gets service benefits following his retirement on May 30. The forest minister also intervened and rejected the order issued by additional chief secretary K R Jyothilal to terminate Sudheesh Kumar, accused in several cases.

Sudheesh Kumar is an accused in more than ten cases. He is an officer involved in allegations of blackmailing some in the minister's office. The officer arrested by the vigilance and remanded, was released on bail yesterday. Sudheesh Kumar was arrested for taking a bribe of Rs 1.45 lakh to save the accused in the red sand boa smuggling case.