Shivangi Prakash-
The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) has responded to a petition filed by TO Sooraj, the former Secretary of Kerala PWD, asking to have the FIR lodged against him in the Palarivattom Flyover Scam case dismissed.
The agency said that it had received the necessary prior approval under the Prevention of Corruption Act to investigate the officials in question.
Following an extensive hearing today, Justice Narayana Pisharadi reserved orders in the case.
From October 12, 2012, to November 22, 2014, the petitioner TO Sooraj was the Secretary of the Public Works Department.
Sooraj claimed that the agency did not obtain prior clearance, as required by Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, before launching an investigation into him.
Aside from that, it was asserted that the Governor had to sign a previous approval in this case, which the respondents did not do.
According to the VACB, the Government directed it to launch a full investigation in accordance with a message dated May 6, 2019.
However, in order to avoid any misunderstanding that the permission is not valid under section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, the Government published a communication on the 26th of August 2019, modifying the prior statement to the effect that the approval is granted under section 17.
As a result, VACB stated that the Government had given permission to undertake an inquiry/investigation into the alleged offence committed by KITCO and RBDCK officers/employees who are public workers.
It was stated that he had exploited his official position as a public servant by engaging in a number of corrupt actions, leading the government to lose money.
