Thiruvananthapuram, July 01: The opposition today staged a walked out in the Kerala assembly after the speaker refused them permission to raise the issue of the "strictures" passed by Thrissur special vigilance court on the vigilance department for not completing the investigation into the disproportionate assests case of state tourism minister K V Thomas. During zero hour, A K Balan (CPI-M) tried to raise the matter through a point of order which was turned down by speaker, Vakkom Purushothman, stating that it was not as per the rules. The opposition had also sought to raise the issue through an adjournment motion which was rejected by the speaker citing rules that matters pending before courts or tribunals could not be discussed in the house through a motion.
Both Balan and opposition leader V S Achuthanandan said chief minister A K Antony should explain the circumstances of the case and "strictures" passed by the special vigilance court. Balan said the court had stated that vigilance department was not complying with its orders regarding the completion of the probe in the case.

Bureau Report