There is scope for a preliminary inquiry against K.M. Abraham, Additional Chief Secretary and Special Secretary (Finance), in connection with allegations of corruption and irregularity in redesignation of Librarians Grade IV of aided colleges as UGC librarians and also the sanction of a course at University College, according to a statement filed by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) in the High Court.
The allegations relate to his tenure as Higher Education Secretary and in-charge of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Kerala. Ullas Kumar M., Deputy Superintendent of Police, VACB, Ernakulam, said the scope for prosecution under the Prevention of Corruption Act could be ascertained only after verification of facts in connection with the allegations.
MPhil course
There was also an allegation that he had sanctioned an MPhil course in University College, Thiruvananthapuram, even without a report from the Principal. The Vigilance said a complaint regarding the allegations was forwarded to the Additional Chief Secretary, Vigilance, for further orders in view of the allegations raised against the previous inquiries conducted against Mr. Abraham.
The statement was filed in response to a directive of the court. The court had earlier directed the VACB to inform the court whether there was any scope for probe into the allegations raised in the writ petition.
The writ petition was filed by T.G. Sarachandran, former Deputy Director of Collegiate Education. The petitioner alleged that by Mr. Abraham’s action, the UGC and the State government had lost more than ₹20 crore by paying salaries at the UGC scale to the redesignated librarians.
He also said he had sanctioned an MPhil course in University College even without a report from the Principal to favour a person at the instance of the then Education Minister.
