Kerala Vigilance orders quick verification of charges against woman minister

Kerala's Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau (VACB) on Monday ordered a quick verification against state Fisheries and Cashew Minister J.Mercykutty Amma following an allegation of corruption over the import of raw cashew from abroad.

The order by VACB chief Jacob Thomas comes a day before when a petition to the same case is being taken up by the Special Vigilance Court here that corruption to the tune of Rs 10 crore has taken place with the knowledge of the minister and others close to her.

The probe also will include the role of her husband and a few others.

The Congress had alleged that money has changed hands and all tender norms were violated, but the VACB ordered the quick verification based on a petition filed by P.Rahim.

State Congress president V.M.Sudheeran hit out at the ruling Left Democratic Front, saying if they still continue to carry the same notion that they had, then the moment, a quick verification is announced against a minister, the minister concerned should quit.

"Have you all forgotten that on numerous occasions, when the (Congress-led) UDF ruled the state (2011-16), the CPI-M led LDF was making such a big noise asking for the resignation, when an allegation broke out? We wish to know what they have to say now," he asked.

Meanwhile the minister welcomed the probe and said that she has nothing to hide in it.

--IANS

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