Monthly pay-off case: No evidence against Chief Minister, says Vigilance

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau said that the three documents presented by Mathew Kuzhalnadan MLA in the court did not contain any evidence to prove Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's involvement in the monthly pay-off case. It was alleged that the CMRL company had received undue favour from the Chief Minister. The Vigilance Prosecutor told the court that there was no evidence for this.

Thiruvananthapuram Vigilance Court judge MV Rajakumara will pronounce the judgment on May 3 on the petition seeking an inquiry against the Chief Minister and his daughter.

The District Collector's letter ordering the removal of alluvial soil and sand from the Thottappally spillway, the High Court's order against the government's decision to reject KMRL's application for a concession on surplus land, and the government note directing a thorough inspection based on this order were the documents that Mathew Kuzhalnadan presented in court.

Vigilance also presented the government order rejecting CMRL's application. Kuzhalnadan could not give a clear answer to the court's question as to what assistance the Chief Minister had given to CMRL in this situation. Vigilance reiterated its earlier stand that the allegation was politically motivated and did not fall under the purview of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Public Prosecutor RL Ranjith Kumar appeared for Vigilance.