Court orders probe into Chandy's role in Palmolein case

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a setback to Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, a Vigilance court here today ordered a probe to ascertain if he had any role in the 1992 palmolein oil import deal as the then Finance Minister in the K Karunakaran government.

Passing the order, Special Vigilance Judge S Jagadeesh, rejected the report filed by investigators in April last stating there was no need for further probe to add any more person to the list of the accused.

The judge asked the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau to submit the probe report within three months.

The Chief Minister's spokesman said Chandy would react to the court order after examining it closely.

The long-pending corruption case had cost P J Thomas the post of Chief Vigilance Commissioner. Thomas was listed as the sixth accused in the case relating to import of 32,000 tonnes of palmolein from Malyasia causing loss to the tune of Rs 2.32 crore to the excehquer.

Thomas, whose appointment as CVC was quashed by the Supreme Court, was the food secretary then and a director of the state Civil Supplies Corporation. Late Congress leader Karunakaran was the first accused in the case.