Vigilance likely to go ahead with probe against CJI's kin

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau in Kerala is likely to go ahead with an inquiry into the charges of amassing wealth by P V Sreenijan, son-in-law of former CJI K G Balakrishan.

Despite the initial suggestion from VACB legal advisor that legal grounds for such an inquiry were slim, the Vigilance Director conveyed to the Home department that the government had the authority to order any type of inquiry.

On obtaining preliminary legal opinion on the issue, the VACB had asked the legal advisor to look into the provisions of the Anti-Corruption Act.

According to official sources here, an order on the inquiry is expected to be issued in a day or two.

The recommendation to conduct an inquiry against Sreenijan was given by Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan last week based on a private petition received by him.

A former vice-president of Youth Congress in Kerala, Sreenijan, who unsuccessfully contested the 2006 Assembly election from Njarakkal segment in Erakulam district, resigned the primary membership of the organisation last week after coming under the cloud of allegations.

Balakrishnan's two sons-in-law -- Sreenijan and Benny -- and younger brother K G Bhaskaran have been accused of amassing properties worth crores in Ernakulam and Thrissur districts.