Lottery welfare fund misappropriation: Court orders medical board to examine mental health of accused

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Vigilance Court has ordered the formation of a medical board to assess the mental health of L.D. Clerk K. Sangeeth, the prime accused in a case involving the embezzlement of Rs 14 crore from the Kerala State Lottery Agents and Sellers Welfare Fund Board. The directive was issued by Judge A. Manoj to the superintendent of the Medical College. Earlier, a doctor at the Peroorkada Mental Health Centre had submitted a report stating that Sangeeth had no mental health issues. However, the defence did not accept this finding, prompting the court to order the formation of a medical board.

When the investigation team arrived at the Vigilance Court to take Sangeeth and the second accused, contractor Anilkumar, into custody, the defence lawyer informed the court that the first accused, Sangeeth, was suffering from mental health issues. The court questioned whether the accused had no mental health issues at the time of the embezzlement and noted that such claims appeared to arise only after police arrest. The court ordered a medical assessment after the defence counsel argued that an accused with mental health issues cannot be taken into custody or interrogated by the police.

Vigilance authorities had found that Sangeeth misappropriated Rs 14 crore by forging documents and misusing cash books, office expense registers, and cheque books. The funds were reportedly used to purchase extensive land parcels and invested in the real estate sector, including the construction of a house. The second accused, Anil, is said to have used part of the embezzled money to start a construction company and make fixed deposits in banks.