Bar bribery case: Shankar Reddy demands inquiry

Thiruvananthapuram: DGP (State Crime Records Bureau) Shanker Reddy has written to Vigilance director  Jacob Thomas expressing concerns over entrusting the preliminary inquiry into his posting as Vigilance director by the previous UDF government to the Vigilance Special Investigation Unit-I SP R. Sukesan.

Mr. Reddy said in his letter that Mr. Sukesan could be prejudiced against him as he (Reddy) had earlier recommended a Crime Branch probe against Mr. Sukesan for his alleged nexus with bar owner Biju Ramesh. Mr. Sukesan was the investigating officer of the bar bribery case.

Mr. Sukesan's statement in connection with the probe into the allegations that the bar bribery probe was sabotaged also pointed fingers at Mr. Reddy.

The Vigilance special court here on December 30 had ordered a preliminary inquiry into the alleged irregularities in the promotion and posting of Mr. Reddy as Vigilance director by the previous UDF government. Former chief minister Oommen Chandy, Opposition Leader and former Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala and former chief secretary Jiji Thomson were the others arraigned in the petition.

Mr. Jacob Thomas is yet to take any action regarding the letter written by Mr  Reddy. He had earlier accused Mr. Thomas of being prejudiced against him for filing a report to the Lok Ayukta stating that Mr. Jacob had violated service rules by going for employment at TKM Institute of Management and obtaining '8.47 lakh in 2009 without government sanction.