Govt rejects vigilance advice to suspend ex-SIDCO MD Saji Basheer

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government has rejected  the recommendation of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau to  suspend  Mr Saji Basheer, former managing director, 

Kerala Small Industries Development Corporation (SIDCO), in connection with the alleged corruption of Rs 5.19 crore related to the development of the land proposed for the Telecom City project in Menamkulam here.

The matter is now pending before the High Court. According to sources, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has  taken th view that there was no justification for the Vigilance recommendation as it  had conducted an ‘exhaustive inquiry for more than two years.’  

The government conveyed this to the High Court in a case pertaining to the matter in June. The VACB was also directed to expedite the probe.

Mr Basheer was recently shifted from SIDCO and posted as Kerala State Industrial Enterprises (KSIE) managing director.  The  corruption related to the land acquired by SIDCO for Telecom City project at Menamkulam here.

The Vigilance special court ordered the probe in October 20, 2012 considering a private petition.

The Vigilance registered a case against Mr Basheer in December 20, 2014 after receiving prima facie evidence for the corruption. Subsequently,  the VACB recommended to the government to suspend Mr Basheer citing that his continuation in the post could affect the probe.

However, the Home Minister pointed out in the file  that during the two years of inquiry, the Vigilance had obtained 26 documents and quizzed six witnesses and 15 accused without any hindrance from any official of SIDCO.

“There is no justification to place the officer under suspension at this distance of time,”  he said. Meanwhile, the VACB is going ahead with the probe. Scientific evaluation of about 19 acres of land was already done and that of another 2.25 acres remains to be conducted.