Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau exonerates J Mercykutty Amma

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a relief to the CPM-led LDF government, the Vigil-ance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) has given a clean chit to fisheries and cashew minister J. Mercykutty Amma in an allegation pertaining to purchase of raw cashews. According to sources, the VACB filed a report before the enquiry commissioner and special judge (vigilance) here on Thursday stating that there was no corruption in the deal. Congress leader V.D. Satheesan had raised the corruption allegations pertaining to purchase of raw cashews. However, the minister had denied it.

The allegation was that Kerala State Cashew Development Corporation (KSCDC) and Kerala State Cashew Workers Apex Industrial Cooperative Society (CAPEX) purchased raw cashews at higher rates by ignoring tenders quoting lower rates. This had caused losses to the tune of Rs 6.87 crore to KSCDC and Rs 3.47 crore to CAPEX. The Vigilance report said that the purchase was intended at resuming the functioning of defunct cashew factories and hence no corruption or conspiracy could be charged. Meanwhile, it is learnt that the VACB was also conducting quick verification into couple of other allegations, including appointment of her relative T.F. Xavier as KSCDC managing director and purchase of equipment for CAPEX. Mercykutty Amma's husband P. Thulaseedhara Kurup was a former chairman of CAPEX.