Kerala govt orders vigilance probe against ex-CJI's son-in-law

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala's LDF Government on Thursday ordered a vigilance probe against ex-CJI K G Balakrishnan's son-in-law P V Sreenijan on charges of amassing wealth in a further embarrassment for the country's former top judge.

The order for the vigilance probe came a day after a local court directed police to investigate the charges of amassing wealth disproportionate to their known sources of income against three family members of Balakrishnan--two sons-in-law and his brother. The three men are already facing an Income Tax probe.

Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan issued the order based on a report given by Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau(VACB) Director favouring a vigilance probe, official sources said.

Fresh troubles for former CJI

The sources said the VACB Director in his report had stated that vigilance probe could be ordered against Sreenijan, a former Youth Congress functionary, under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA).

The VACB legal advisor had earlier expressed doubts over holding a vigilance probe under the PCA as Sreenijan would not come under the definition of a public servant, but the Vigilance Director took the stand that the government had the authority to order any type of inquiry.

Chief Minister V S Achtuthanandan had last week recommended an inquiry against Sreenijan based on a private petition received by him.

'No info on legal hurdles in probe against ex-CJI's kin'

A former vice-president of state Youth Congress, Sreenijan, who had unsuccessfully contested the last assembly polls, resigned from the primary membership of the organisation last week after coming under a cloud over the disproportionate assets charges.

The Judicial Magistrate Court in Thiruvananthapuram had yesterday asked the Kochi Police Commissioner to probe similar allegations against Sreenijan and Balakrishnan's another son-in-law M J Benny and brother K G Bhaskaran.

Balakrishnan's three family members also came under the Income Tax department scanner with the agency launching a preliminary inquiry into the charges against them.

A vigilance court in Thrissur has also admitted a petition filed by an NGO seeking an investigation into the charges.

Balakrishnan, who is the Chairperson of National Human Rights Commission, is named as the first respondent in the case which will come up for further hearing on January 18.

In the wake of the allegations, Bhaskaran had quit as government pleader in the high court citing health reasons.