Vigilance recommends CBI probe in Punarjani case against V D Satheesan 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The vigilance has recommended a CBI probe in the Punarjani case against opposition leader V D Satheesan. The report of vigilance’ recommendation has been handed over to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The vigilance has recommended that the CBI should investigate the irregularities in collecting funds from abroad in the name of the Punarjani project, a housing project for families who lost houses in 2018 floods, in his assembly constituency North Paravur. Former director Yogesh Gupta had recommended this a year ago.

The vigilance has recommended the need for a CBI investigation, citing violation of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) and the violation of the law in raising funds by going abroad after obtaining permission from the Central Government for a private visit and transferring it to an account in Kerala.

The CBI is required to conduct an investigation under Section 3 (2) (a) of the FCRA Act, 2010. Along with this, vigilance has also recommended that the Speaker take action for the violation of the law committed by the members of the Legislative Assembly under Rule 41 of Appendix II of the Rules of Procedure of the Kerala Legislative Assembly.
In 2020, the Kathikudam Action Council filed a complaint with the ED and vigilance regarding the Punarjani project. It is alleged that V D Satheesan had collected money from abroad for the Punarjani project and that there was corruption in its utilization.

The foundation was formed under the name Manappatt Foundation and received money from abroad for the Punarjani project. Vigilance has found that 22,500 pounds (Rs 19,95,880.44) was collected from various individuals in the UK and sent to the Manappatt Foundation's account.

Meantime, opposition leader V D Satheesan said that he does not believe that the news that vigilance has recommended a CBI probe into the Punarjani case is true. Satheesan told the media that such a case does not exist and therefore the CBI cannot recommend it.

‘The vigilance itself abandoned this case, seeing that it would not stand. The investigation has been going on for four to five years. This case will not stand legally. My action is 100 percent correct. I have all the evidence for it. Even if the investigation comes, there is no problem. I have already presented all the evidence. I have said before that I welcome the investigation.

Elections will be announced in early March. So, if this action is done with the intention of having a case against me in January, I have no objection. I am ready to face it politically and legally. Let the case be handed over to the CBI,' clarified Satheesan.