Fresh probe of palm oil case questioned by accused

KOCHI: In a fresh twist to the palmolein import case, senior IAS officer and Special Director-General of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee, Jiji Thomson, has petitioned the Kerala HC to quash a vigilance special court directive ordering fresh investigation into the case, specifically to probe the role of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in the case.

Special Vigilance Judge PK Haneefa had recently ordered investigation against the chief minister. The petitioner said that the special judge has no power to order further investigation suo moto.

Ommen Chandy was the finance minister of the state when palmolein was imported in to the state in 1992. Jiji Thomson is the fifth accused in the case.

In his petition Jiji Thomson, who was the MD of State Civil Supplies Corporation when the palmolein import deal was concluded, said that the investigation into the case will become an endless process.

Complaining that he was denied promotion due to the long drawn out case, Thomson said he has undergone untold harassment due to the false case.

Meanwhile, the Thiruvananthapuram Vigilance Special Court has asked the state government chief whip PC George to appear before the Court in a contempt of court case. George has been asked to appear in the court following the remarks against the vigilance court judge.