UDF spotlights court’s observation that a ‘superpower authority’ controlled Vigilance as an indictment of CMO

The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) on Friday argued that a special court’s damning repudiation of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB)‘s attempt to absolve former Additional Director General of Police, Law and Order, M.R. Ajith Kumar vindicated the Opposition’s position that a cabal of conspirators at the apex of the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) subverted law enforcement for their vested interests. 

Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan stated that the clique operated beyond the pale of law and legislative scrutiny. 

Mr. Satheesan said the court had shone a light on how the coterie controlled the police, including the VACB. He highlighted the court’s observations in the high-profile case. 

Inquiry Commissioner and Special Judge A. Manoj had written that the “court cannot believe that the officers of the Vigilance department and the superpower authority controlling them” violated the Supreme Court’s stricture on investigating official corruption. 

Mr. Satheesan also seized upon a damning observation of the court to criticise the CMO. The court stated that the “facts of the case suggest that there is an invisible penetration by someone into the inquiry that leads to the preparation of a report favourable to the suspect, who holds a high position in the Police department. The inquiry report is a subservient report prepared for those who need reports like the present one.” 

The judge flagged an “apparent attempt” at the inquiry’s outset to supersede the statutory provisions of the Vigilance Manual and Supreme Court judgments, including the establishing Lalithakumari case.

The judge wrote that the investigation officer juggled facts and statements to absolve the accused officer of the alleged crime of disproportionate assets accumulation. 

Mr. Satheesan said the court’s decision to conduct an inquiry on its own was an indictment of the Left Department Front (LDF) and its Home and Vigilance departments. He stated the court had signalled an evident lack of trust in the VACB governed by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. 

Mr. Satheesan alleged that the VACB’s clean chit to Mr. Ajith Kumar was a quid pro quo for the ranking officer acting as the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)]’s secret emissary to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. He alleged that Mr. Vijayan had protected the officer, despite him holding secret parleys with the RSS’ national leadership.