The Kozhikode Vigilance Inquiry Commissioner and Special Judge on Friday issued directions to the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) to carry out an inquiry and submit a report on the allegations of irregularities in implementing health schemes when the LDF was in power in the Corporation Council during the 2000-2005 period.
Special Judge V. Jayaram asked the Vigilance Deputy Superintendent of Police to submit a preliminary report within three months.
The order was issued on the basis of a petition moved by P.T. John, vice chairman of the Anti-Corruption Campaign Committee, seeking a vigilance probe into the allegations.
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The complainant named Deputy Mayor P.T. Abdul Latheef; former Mayor M. Bhaskaran, who was Standing Committee Chairman on Health during 2000-2005; C.K. Renuka Devi, councillor belonging to Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI-M]; and P. Venugopal, former Corporation secretary; as respondents in the case.
The petitioner alleged that he had found, based on his study, that the Corporation Council had indulged in large-scale corruption in implementing various schemes from October 2000 to October 2005.
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This had brought immense loss to the State exchequer.
Copies of the Local Fund Audit Report were also attached along with the public interest litigation.
Some of the allegations were purchase of mosquitocide at the cost Rs.15 lakh under the comprehensive sanitation programme of People’s Plan Campaign.
The respondents had entered into a criminal conspiracy and purchased the mosquitocide from a Koyilandy-based firm at a cost of Rs.6.65 lakh without inviting tenders.
The Local Fund Audit Report had pointed out anomalies in the purchase.
Similarly, allegations were raised against the implementation of the Model Solid Waste Management Programme.
The Corporation Council had approved a sum of Rs.10.76 lakh for the purchase of equipment for implementing the project in 16 wards.