KOCHI: The High Court has ordered a CBI investigation in the titanium scam case in which late former chief minister Oommen Chandy, former opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala and former industry minister VK Ebrahim Kunju are accused. The investigation should be completed within six months and the report should be submitted.

Justice K Babu's order is based on a petition seeking a CBI investigation filed by S Jayan, a former employee of the Titanium Company and vice president of the General Labor Union.

Mekon, who was a project consultant, was accused of embezzling Rs 120 crore in importing equipment worth Rs 256 crore from a Finland-based company to set up a pollution control plant at a titanium company. Following a court order in 2014, Vigilance, which registered a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act and started an investigation, found corruption of 80 crores. The vigilance team made a recommendation to the government stating that the investigation should be left to the CBI as it is a case with international connections. The government asked the CBI to take over the case, but the central government and the CBI were not ready. Following this the petitioner approached the High Court.

The CBI opposed the plea citing practical obstacles in conducting an investigation now in a case related to a corruption case that took place 20 years ago. The CBI explained that many people who were in service then have now retired and there are many difficulties in finding them and collecting evidence. The court rejected these arguments. The High Court held that a CBI investigation is appropriate in a case with international connections.