Kerala government moves SC against CBI probe into Life Mission

NEW DELHI: The state government has approached the Supreme Court against the High Court order allowing the CBI probe into the Life Mission project. The government said in the petition that there was no violation of FCRI rules and wants the verdict to be upheld immediately. The petition was filed in the Supreme Court after the High Court rejected a petition filed by the state government and construction contractor Unitac against the CBI probe.

The CBI has taken up the case under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act. The FIR has been registered against Unitech Managing Director Santosh Eapen and Sane Ventures. A report has been tabled regarding this at the special CBI court in Kochi. The Enforcement Directorate, which is investigating the gold smuggling case, had earlier questioned Life Mission CEO UV Jose.

Unitac MD, who is handling the Life Mission project in Kerala, had told the central agencies that the accused in the gold smuggling case, Swapna, Sarith and Sandeep, had demanded a commission of Rs 1 crore. The CBI has taken up the case on the basis that there was a breach in the Life Mission related to receiving funds from abroad.