Thiruvananthapuram: In a new turn to the
politically significant palmolein import graft case in Kerala,
state Vigilance has filed a report in a special court here,
saying there is no need for a further probe citing lack of
material to expand the list of accused.
In March, the Vigilance Court had allowed a plea from the
prosecution to further investigate the case after it contended
some more persons are likely to be named accused in the case.
The state vigilance filed the report yesterday.
The move was seen as an attempt to implicate senior Congress
leader Oommen Chandy, who was Finance Minister in the UDF
ministry headed by late K Karunakaran, which cleared the
palmolein import deal in 1992, which led to the case.
The case relates to alleged corruption in import of
palmolein from Malaysia at exorbitant rates, which allegedly
caused a loss of Rs 2.32 crore to the exchequer in 1991-92.
The accused in the case include then Food Minister and
Congress leader T H Musthafa and former Central Vigilance
Commissioner P J Thomas, who was Food secretary during the
period.
The chargesheet in the case was filed by the Vigilance and
Anti-corruption Bureau in 2003.
PTI
