Chandy must quit as head of Vigilance Dept: Kodiyeri

Monday, August 8, 2011: Former Minister and CPM leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan on Monday said that an unbiased investigation into the palmolein case is doubtful.

Since the role of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy is also under investigation and the Vigilance is handled by the chief minister himself it is doubtful whether a neutral probe is possible, he said. It is not proper that Chandy head the probe against himself, Kodiyeri said.

The Vigilance has submitted a report protecting the ruling UDF, he alleged. It is a special situation when the man against whom the probe is conducted is heading the agency, he said. The court should oversee the probe, Kodiyeri said. He also said that the report was submitted without getting the sanction of the prosecutor. The Vigilance director, who submitted the report, should be removed from the post, Kodiyeri said.