Land transfer case: VS named first accused

The Vigilance and Anti-corruption Bureau (VACB) team probing the controversial land transfer case against Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan has completed its investigation, and submitted the report for legal opinion at the VACB Directorate in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday.

V S Achuthanandan has been listed as the first accused in the case, which was probed by Vigilance DySP V G Kunjan.

The other accused include the then Revenue Minister K P Rajendran, former Land Revenue Commissioner K R Muraleedharan, former Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Sheela Thomas, VS’ relative T K Soman, former Kasargod Collectors Anand Singh and Krishnan Kutty and VS’ personal assistant A Suresh. A team of Vigilance officials quizzed VS at his official residence in Thiruvananthapuram on June 23.

When contacted, Vigilance North Zone officials said that the inquiry had been completed and the report was submitted before the legal advisor. “After getting the legal advise, the report would be revised accordingly. Then the final report will be submitted before the VACB director, and after the state government gives sanction  for prosecution of the accused, the chargesheet would be filed before the vigilance court,” the officials said.

It was in June last year that the Oommen Chandy government ordered a probe by the Vigilance Department into the case, after examining all files related to the transfer of 2.33 acres of land to T K Soman, an ex-serviceman. According to government norms, when land is allotted to Defence personnel, it should not exceed one acre. But Soman was given 2.33 acres in Kasargod district.

It is learnt that the investigators obtained crucial clues to prove that the former chief minister had conspired and connived with the other accused to favour his kin in the allotment of the government land.