THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Lokayukta has again ridiculed R Shashi Kumar, the complainant in the case of misuse of the chief minister's relief fund. The complainant's lawyer had yesterday asked the Lokayukta to postpone the case. The lawyer requested to postpone the case as it is being considered in the high court and so the consideration of the Lokayukta should be postponed. The Lokayukta ridiculed following this.

The Lokayukta said it's good to demand this now and then. The dailies will carry this. Upalokayukta also asked why troubling them like this. Either get a stay from the high court, how many days is the full bench sitting like this? We would be happy if this gets out of our heads, criticized Lokayukta.

However, despite criticism, the Lokayukta accepted R Shashi Kumar's demand. The case has been postponed to July 20.

The Lokayukta had severely criticized Shashi Kumar while considering his review plea related to the same case in April. Justice Cyriac Joseph had stated then that if there is evidence that the chief minister influenced them in the relief fund misappropriation case, he should say it and that he is defaming the judges. Upalokayukta Justice Haroon Al Rasheed started the criticism by asking whether Shashi Kumar was present. When the lawyer said that he had not arrived, the Upalokayukta jibed that he could have come and argued in person and that he was arguing well in channels.

The petitioner had objected the payment of Rs 25 lakhs for the education expenses of the children of late NCP leader Uzhavoor Vijayan and Rs 8.5 lakhs to the son of late Chengannur MLA Ramachandran Nair from the relief fund in addition to his job as an assistant engineer. The petitioner had also pointed out that besides the government job and other benefits, Rs 20 lakh was given to the wife of a civil police officer who died in an accident in the pilot vehicle of Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, who was the CPM state secretary, and it was a misuse of the relief fund.