: The Kerala High Court on Tuesday directed the Vigilance to file a statement regarding the case registered against former Ernakulam District Collector and director, Kerala Tourism, P.I. Sheikh Pareed in connection with the allegation that while functioning as Ernakulam district collector he had permitted a bar hotel to operate in a building taken over by the government for the Kochi metro.
Mr. Pareed in his petition contended that after the entire building was acquired and taken possession, the bar owner made a representation to him seeking to allow him to remove the movables and other articles such as liquor kept in a room in the building. In fact, he had only instructed the excise authorities to permit the bar owner to take away the movables and other articles, exercising the power vested with him. He had not allowed the bar owner to occupy the building.
