Kochi, 15 June (H.S.) :

The Kerala High Court has dealt a setback to Industries Department Additional Chief Secretary Mohammed Hanish in connection with a contempt case arising from the alleged Kerala State Cashew Development Corporation corruption scandal.

A Division Bench of the High Court on Monday dismissed a petition filed by Hanish challenging an earlier order of a Single Bench that directed him to appear in person and face contempt proceedings. The court also instructed the senior bureaucrat to be present before the Single Bench on Friday.

The court made sharp observations against Hanish while rejecting his plea. The contempt proceedings stem from allegations that the government failed to implement an earlier High Court order relating to the prosecution of officials involved in the cashew import case.

The controversy relates to the import of raw cashew nuts from abroad, a deal in which the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had reportedly detected corruption involving around Rs 500 crore. Following the CBI findings, the High Court had earlier directed the government to consider granting sanction for the prosecution of Kerala State Cashew Development Corporation Chairman R. Chandrasekhar and Managing Director K.A. Ratheesh, an IAS officer.

According to the court, action was initiated against Hanish for allegedly failing to implement the directions issued by the High Court in the matter.

In his explanation before the court, Hanish had stated that he could not conclude that corruption had taken place as there was insufficient evidence to support such a finding. However, the Division Bench questioned how a government official could claim there was no evidence when judicial findings and a CBI investigation had already pointed to irregularities.

The court further asked how it was possible to assert that no corruption had occurred in a case where the CBI had reportedly identified serious financial misconduct. The matter will now come up before the Single Bench, where Hanish has been directed to appear personally as the contempt proceedings continue.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman