KOCHI: Opposition Leader VD Satheesan and Ramesh Chennithala filed a petition in the High Court demanding a probe into the controversial AI camera deal under the supervision of the High Court. The Congress leaders said that the High Court must supervise the probe as the high officials of the administration were involved in the deal. A division bench comprising Chief Justice SNV Bhatti and Justice Basant Balaji will hear the petition on Tuesday.

In the petition, the leaders alleged that there was corruption and nepotism in the deal. They also pointed out that surveillance using AI cameras was a violation of privacy. The petition also questioned the eligibility of Keltron, which was awarded the project contract. The leaders demanded that the administrative approval given by the government for the project should be cancelled. They also said that the contract between Keltron and SRIT for electronic equipment and other things, and the contract between the Department of Motor Vehicles and Keltron for implementation of the project should be cancelled. The interim demand raised by the Congress leaders is that a stay should be issued on the Safe Kerala project.

The Finance Department had rejected the DPR prepared by Keltron for the project. However, the project was implemented because of the direct relationship and political influence of those behind the project with those occupying high positions in the administration, the leaders alleged.