No investigation in monthly pay-off case; vigilance court rejects Mathew Kuzhalnadan’s plea, major setback

KOCHI: The court rejected the plea filed by Congress leader Mathew Kuzhalnadan demanding an investigation against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his daughter Veena Vijayan in the monthly pay-off case. The Thiruvananthapuram Vigilance Court rejected the plea. Kuzhalnadan approached the court demanding the court to investigate directly.

Kuzhalnadan alleged that Veena Vijayan was paid a monthly salary as a reward for granting permission to the CMRL company for mineral sand mining. The court had asked the petitioner to produce evidence for his claim. Mathew Kuzhalnadan's lawyer had presented some documents in this regard to the court.

However, the vigilance prosecutor told the court that none of the documents showed that the government had gone out of the way to help the company. Kuzhalnadan was not able to prove the illegal reward alleged to have been given by CMRL in the monthly pay off case or to give a clear answer to the vigilance court's questions. Special vigilance court judge M V Rajakumara considered the case on May 3.