Only guilty need to fear: Kerala CM on graft case

A day after a Kerala court dismissed a probe report in a graft case involving him, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy Friday said he is ready to face any further investigation as his conscience is very clear.

"I am prepared to face any probe because only the guilty need to fear and my conscience is very clear," Chandy told reporters here.

A vigilance court in Thiruvananthapuram Thursday dismissed the probe report in the corruption case and asked the state vigilance department to re-investigate the accused, including Chandy, two cabinet ministers and eight other people.

The court was looking into alleged corruption in the implementation of the Rs.2.56 billion pollution control and expansion project in the state-owned Travancore Titanium Products Ltd.

The alleged corruption took place when Chandy was the chief minister in 2004-06. The case was filed by an employee of the company at the vigilance court.

"When a case was registered in 2006, none of us figured in that list and it was only in 2011 that our names figured. (Home Minister Ramesh) Chennithala was in no way connected to this decision. I was fully involved and I am prepared to face any probe," said Chandy.

Asked about whether he would quit over the issue, Chandy said: "Why should I resign? Don't you remember the ruckus that was created here when the palmoil case against me surfaced. There was a huge cry for me to resign."

"The Kerala High Court cleared me... The same thing arose when the solar scam surfaced and today the Left opposition, which cried for my resignation, did not appear before the ongoing judicial commission. So, in this case also, I know, I have done no wrong," he said.

The probe report submitted to the court said there was a loss of Rs.8 million, but it could not zero in on who was responsible. The court, however, rejected the probe report and ordered a re-investigation.

Meanwhile, Chennithala Friday said he was prepared to face any sort of probe and has had no role in it.

"Why should I resign in a cooked up case? I am prepared to face any probe," he said.

Besides Chandy and Chennithala, Public Works Minister V.K. Ebrahim Kunju and eight other people were accused in the case.