Idamalayar case: 44 convicts sentenced to three years in jail

THRISSUR: The Thrissur Vigilance Court has sentenced 44 convicts, including officials and contractors, to three years in prison in the Chalakudy Valathukara canal restoration scam which is part of the Idamalayar Irrigation Project. The court also slapped a fine of Rs 2 lakh on each accused. It was found that the government had incurred a loss of Rs 1.05 crores through corruption.

There are 51 accused in as many as 39 cases. Six people died during the trial. One person was acquitted. Vigilance judge G Anil passed the sentence accepting Vigilance's contention that there was corruption in the restoration of the Valathukara canal in Chalakudy, which was eight kilometres long. The investigation was based on a complaint lodged by Chalakudy native PL Jacob with the Director of Vigilance in 2004.

The chargesheet filed in 2011 named Chalakudy Executive Engineer Silesh as the first accused and Assistant Executive Engineers Pushparaj, Basheer, Devasy, contractors KJ Johnson, Michael and others as other accused.