Mathew Kuzhalnadan asks court to directly file case against CM Vijayan and Veena; stick to one stand, says court

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Changing his stand in the monthly payment case, Mathew Kuzhalnadan MLA demanded a court enquiry in the case against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his daughter Veena Vijayan. Earlier, he demanded to order a vigilance investigation. The new demand came while the court had reserved its order in the plea. Asking Kuzhalnadan to stick to one demand, the court adjourned the plea to April 12 for judgment.

The vigilance lawyer told the court that Mathew's change of stance is politically motivated. The main allegation in the plea is that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's daughter Veena Vijayan received a monthly payment as a reward for granting permission to the CMRL company for mineral sand mining. Mathew Kuzhalnadan filed a plea in the Thiruvananthapuram Vigilance Court against seven people, including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his daughter Veena Vijayan on February 29.

CMRL MD Sasidharan Kartha bought land for mineral sand mining in Thrikunnapuzha and Arattupuzha but was not granted mining permission as it was against the 2004 state order and central rules. Veena entered into an agreement with CMRL after Kartha's efforts to obtain concession for the said land under the Kerala Land Transfer Act failed. The plea alleges that after this the Chief Minister directly intervened and directed the Revenue Department to re-examine Kartha's application.

The government had opposed the petition arguing that the allegations did not fall under the purview of the Vigilance Act. The government argued in the court that the vigilance court could not review the order of the Income Tax Settlement Board and that the petitions of a similar nature had already been disposed of.