VS Achuthanandan' son Arun in dock again

Thiruvananthapuram: The vigilance special cell in Thiruvananthapuram has recommended registration of a case against Opposition leader V. S. Achuthanandan's son V. A. Arun Kumar for amassment of illegal assets.

Sources said a preliminary probe had found that Mr Kumar had amassed 40 per cent more wealth than his known sources of income. The special cell submitted its recommendation to the vigilance directorate for registering a case recently and is awaiting further directions.

The vigilance had registered a case against him in 2014 for alleged financial irregularities during his tenure as managing director of the Coir Board. Mr Kumar, who is now an additional director of the Institute of Human Resources Development, had faced a series of charges.

Vigilance sources said even without taking into account the expenses on his foreign trips, it was estimated that 40 percent of his total wealth at present was illegal. "Hence, we have suggested registration of a case for conducting a detailed probe," sources in the cell said.

Though the cell had recently sought permission to prosecute Mr Kumar in the Rs 47-lakh Coir Board corruption case, the vigilance legal wing had sought certain clarifications on the matter and hence it was getting delayed, they said.

The alleged corruption pertained to the construction of a go-down for a private company in Cherthala. Besides him, the company's consultant R. K. Ramesh and contractor Mohammadali were also arraigned as defendants.