Relief for M R Ajith Kumar; no further probe in disproportionate assets case, says HC 

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court has ruled that no further investigation be conducted against ADGP M R Ajith Kumar in the disproportionate assets case. The high court quashed the vigilance court order cancelling the clean chit. The high court has directed that the complainants should seek prior permission and then file a complaint again. The court, which heard the government's plea on the vigilance court's remarks against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's office, also removed the remarks against the chief minister.

Ajith Kumar filed a plea in the high court against the vigilance court's verdict cancelling the clean chit. Ajith Kumar's argument is that the court's action was without properly examining the vigilance report. Only the allegations levelled by an MLA through media reached the court as a complaint. Ajit Kumar also argued that there was no other credible evidence for the complaint. The plea sought a stay on the verdict, which was not properly assessed on the facts of the case.

The vigilance court had ordered that the chief minister cannot interfere in the investigation of the case related to Ajith Kumar. The order was issued by the special vigilance court after the vigilance report acquitting Ajith Kumar was rejected. The court, which severely criticized the officer who conducted the investigation, also criticized the statement in the final report that the chief minister had approved it. The court had observed that the chief minister is only the administrative head of the vigilance and that political executives cannot interfere at any stage of the investigation.