Thiruvananthapuram: In an embarrassment to NHRC
Chairman and former CJI K G Balakrishnan, Kerala government
on Thursday ordered a Vigilance probe against his son-in-law P V
Sreenijan on charges of amassing disproportionate wealth.
State Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan issued the
necessary orders in this regard based on a report given
by Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) Director in
favour of conducting a vigilance probe.
According to official sources, VACB director in his report
had stated that vigilance probe could be ordered against
Sreenijan, a former state youth congress vice-president, under
four grounds of Prevention of Corruption Act.
Earlier, the legal advisor of the VACB had opined that
Sreenijan would not come under the definition of public
servant and had expressed legal maintainability of such a
probe.
Despite the initial suggestion from VACB legal advisor that
legal grounds for such an inquiry were slim,the Vigilance
Director had also conveyed to the Home department that the
government had the authority to order any type of inquiry.
The recommendation to conduct an inquiry against Sreenijan
was given by Chief Minister V S Achtuthanandan last week based
on a private petition received by him.
Sreenijan, who unsuccessfully contested the 2006 assembly
polls from Njarakkal segment in Erakulam district, resigned
the primary membership of the organisation last week after
coming under the cloud of allegations of purchasing real
estate properties in posh areas in different parts of the
state.
Yesterday, the Income Tax investigation wing had
preliminary enquiry into the allegations of amassment of
wealth by Balakrishnan's two sons in law-- P V Sreenijan and
Benny and younger brother K G Bhaskaran, a special government
pleader of the kerala high court who resigned after the
allegations broke out on health grounds.
The Ernakulam Bar Assocaition today unanimously passed a
resolution seeking enquiry against jsutice Balakrishnan and
his family members. Justice balakrishnan should resign as NHRC
Chairman, the resolution demanded.
The resolution also wanted more transparency in the
appointment of judges and the introduction of Lok pal bill,
pending since the last 43 years, as early as possible,
Association President Marlo Pallam said.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, January 13, 2011, 18:27