Vigilance dept. had sought approval from govt. for probe into alleged benami deals of P.P. Divya, HC told

The State government has informed the Kerala High Court that the Vigilance department had sought prior approval from the government to probe the alleged benami deals of P.P. Divya, former president of the Kannur district panchayat.

As per Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, prior government approval is needed to conduct a probe into an offence related to recommendations made, or decisions taken by a public servant while discharging official functions or duties.

A week ago, the High Court sought instructions from the State government on a petition alleging that there is a bid to sabotage a Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) probe into corruption allegations against Ms. Divya.

In his petition submitted before the High Court, P. Muhammed Shammas, vice-president of the Kerala Students’ Union (KSU), has said that there were attempts to sabotage the VACB probe against Ms. Divya in connection with alleged “corruption and benami property transactions to the tune of crores of rupees.”

Mr. Shammas, who had lodged a complaint with the VACB six months ago, had said recently that no action had been taken on the complaint so far, and even his statement had not been recorded. He had alleged that the probe was derailed following high-level political intervention and said that former Vigilance Director Yogesh Gupta, who had recommended registration of a case on the basis of the preliminary inquiry, was removed from the post and was later denied appointment as the State Police Chief.

The case has been posted for hearing on September 18.