Major relief for Kerala CM, case referred to Lokayukta full bench

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a major relief for Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the Lokayukta on Friday referred the case pertaining to alleged misuse of the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) to a larger three-member bench.

The decision to refer the case to the three-member full bench was taken as Lokayukta Cyriac Joseph and Upa Lokayukta Harun-ul-Rashid could not reach a unanimous decision following a difference of opinion. The full bench would be constituted later to hear the case.

The case pertains to a complaint filed by an activist and former Kerala University syndicate member RS Sasikumar who alleged favouritism in the decision to provide financial assistance to the families of late NCP leader Uzhavor Vijayan , former Chengannur MLA late KK Ramachandran Nair and a police personal P Praveen who died in a road mishap while escorting former CPM state secretary late Kodiyeri Balakrishnan.

The complainant accused the chief minister of taking a unilateral decision to provide assistance from the CMDRF to the families of the three deceased persons.

Sasikumar also alleged that the matter pertaining to the financial assistance was not included in the agenda of the Cabinet meeting. The chief minister, 16 ministers (previous LDF government 2016-21) and the chief secretary were arraigned as accused in the case.

The complainant demanded the sacking of the chief minister and the ministers concerned for the grave violation.

The hearing in the case was held from February 5, 2022 to March 18, 2022. As per norms the verdict should have been given within 30 days of the completion of the hearing. It could be extended by another 15 days in the event of any extraordinary situation.

But in this case, the verdict was indefinitely delayed following which the complainant Sasikumar had to approach the high court. The high court directed him to approach the Lokayukta.

In view of the HC directive, the Lokayukta posted the case for March 31.

Three instances of alleged misuse of chief minister's distress relief fund cited in the case;

 An amount of Rs 25 lakh paid for the education of the children of NCP leader late Uzhavoor Vijayan.

The appointment of the son of former Chengannur  MLA late Ramachandran Nair as assistant engineer and paying Rs 8.5 lakh for redeeming his wife's pledged gold and to settle his car loan.

Rs 20 lakh paid to the wife of a civil police officer P Praveen who died when the pilot vehicle of CPM leader late Kodiyeri Balakrishnan met with an accident.