Thiruvananthapuram, 13 Nov (H.S.):

The Crime Branch’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) has informed a court that Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) Chairman Dr M.R. Baiju is not cooperating with its investigation into alleged irregularities in an examination connected to the State Planning Board.

In a report submitted to the Thiruvananthapuram Vigilance Court, the SIT said Baiju had appeared for questioning once but failed to turn up on two subsequent occasions despite being served notices.

The investigating team is now seeking to secure his appearance for further questioning through the court. It will also inform the Kerala High Court about his alleged non-cooperation.

The development comes against the backdrop of the High Court’s direction to complete the investigation expeditiously. In its report, the SIT stressed that recording the chairman’s further statement was essential to completing the probe.

Investigators summoned Baiju again after recording statements from PSC members and officials. The fresh questioning is intended to obtain his responses following the examination of others connected with the commission.

Baiju, however, responded that he would communicate his decision after the High Court delivered its verdict in the pending case, according to the account provided.

During his earlier questioning, the chairman denied having intervened unlawfully in the examination process. He attributed the lapses to officials and maintained that he had committed no illegal act.

Two PSC officials had earlier been arrested in connection with the case. The investigation is examining the alleged examination irregularities and the role of those involved.

The SIT’s report places the difficulties it says it has faced in questioning the chairman before the vigilance court, while highlighting the High Court’s deadline-related direction.

With further questioning considered necessary, the investigating team is pursuing judicial intervention to obtain Baiju’s statement and advance the probe. The allegations remain under investigation, and the report does not establish the chairman’s guilt.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman