The Thiruvananthapuram Vigilance Court has dismissed MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan's plea for an investigation into Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his daughter Veena T regarding the monthly payment controversy. Kuzhalnadan had alleged that the Chief Minister exerted undue influence to benefit CMRL (Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd), resulting in Veena receiving monthly payments for her services. Initially seeking Vigilance intervention, Kuzhalnadan later requested the court to conduct the investigation directly. However, the court pointed out the need for clarity on whether the case should be handled by the court or Vigilance. Kuzhalnadan's lawyer expressed the desire for the court to proceed, leading to an adjournment of the proceedings.
The controversy centers around CMRL's land acquisition for mining in Thrikunnapuzha and Arattupuzha, allegedly without proper permissions. Kuzhalnadan's petition asserts that the Chief Minister intervened by instructing the Revenue Department to re-evaluate S Sasidharan Kartha's application in this regard. It is claimed that Veena began receiving monthly payments following this intervention. The court's decision to defer to Kuzhalnadan's preference for court oversight sets the stage for further legal proceedings in this contentious case.
