In the petitioners plea, it was alleged that the former Minister had utilized the bank accounts of Chandrika newspaper for depositing the illegal money generated by him by misusing his official position as the Minister. It was further contended that one of the accused in the vigilance case registered in relation to the corruption in the construction of the flyover, had disclosed to the media that Kunju was involved in that transaction.
The petitioner also submitted that he had submitted a private complaint to the Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau (VACB) and the State Police but no effective steps had been taken by them.
A single-judge closed the petition stating,
“writ petition is closed with a direction that respondent Nos.1 (Director VACB) and 2 (DYSP State Police) shall proceed with Ext.P1(private complaint) and 3rd respondent (Joint Director ED) shall proceed with the investigation into the allegations raised by the petitioner in accordance with law and with full earnestness, and bring the matter to its logical conclusion“, the single-judge’s 2020 order stated.
Kunju moved an appeal against the same and a different division bench of the Court stayed the directions of the single-judge.
“There shall be a stay of the directions insofar as directing the respondent No.4/respondent No.3 (Joint director ED, DySP State Police) in the writ petition, to proceed with the investigation, insofar as the appellant is concerned, into the allegations raised by the writ petitioner and also in respect of sharing of the relevant materials by the Joint Director, Enforcement Directorate, Kochi, respondent No.4,” the division bench’s 2021 order stated.
Source: Barandbench
