THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Probe team has found out the mastermind behind Rs 50 lakh scam in Adoor police canteen. The chief accused is the lady staff of police headquarters. This woman had who asked the staff in the police canteen to make unnecessary purchases via phone calls and WhatsApp earned lakhs in the form of commission from the firms which distribute various commodities.

The scam worth Rs 50 lakh was centred on the police camp in Adoor. The issue set off a row after irregularities were spotted in the purchases for the canteen in the financial year 2018-19. The chief commandant of the camp who confirmed the irregularities recommended for a thorough probe on the purchases, in the report submitted before the police DGP prepared with the assistance of audit agencies.

Probe limited on declaration

Apart from the usual enquiry of the home department, the authorities have also declared that two IAS officers will be appointed to conduct a thorough probe, but no subsequent action was taken on the case. The reason was the influence of the accused and high-level political intervention. The police canteens are run and regulated by pro-government unions. As the scam in the canteen set off a row and caused insult to the department before the public, now the department itself is hatching moves to bury the case itself. Such cases are happening in the home department headed by chief minister, whose uncompromising attitude to graft cases are well-known.