Kerala: Vigilance court to look into graft plaint

KANNUR: The Thalassery Vigilance court will consider a complaint by A.K. Shaji from Iritty against three officials who failed to comply with rules while transferring 300 acres from Kanthapuram AP Abubacker Muzaliyar to Jabbar Haji. The complaint, which also cites the registration of the land even on minor sons’ names, was filed in February, and the quick verification report was submitted last week.

According to Mr Shaji, the estate land was bought by Kanthapuram in 2000, containing Karuppa trees and an archaeologically-significant building, believed to have been used by Herman Gundert. This building was constructed in 1867.

After buying the estate land in 2000, Kanthapuram gave the power of attorney to Mr Jabbar in 2001. Between 2004 and 2007, Mr Shaji alleges that Mr Jabbar misappropriated the land and registered part of the land, entitling his minor sons. Mr Shaji says that the registrar, village officer and panchayat secretary failed to prevent conversion.

“The Herman Gundert building was demolished and the panchayat secretary did not check this, though enjoying tax revenue. The registrar as well as the village officer did not prevent the crime. My complaint is against three of them, and not Kanthapuram or Jabbar Haji,” said Mr Shaji.

He added that Kannur Medical College was set up on the same land in Ancharakkandy and the waste from the medical college directly pollutes the river. “The environmentalists and other activists are silenced by the power of Jabbar Haji, an NRI, who has a business empire,” he added.