New Delhi, January 11: The trial of Chief Vigilance Commissioner P.J. Thomas in the palm oil import corruption case in Kerala will continue in the lower court, the Supreme Court ruled Tuesday.
The decks were cleared after the apex court said former Kerala chief minister K. Karunakaran’s appeal against the trial in the case was infructuous following his death.
The apex court bench of Justice Aftab Alam and Justice R.M. Lodha said that after the death of Karunakaran Dec 23, 2010, his appeal abated.
The apex court order came in the wake of the Kerala government’s plea before the court seeking the vacation of a restrain on the lower court proceedings in the scam.
Karunakaran along with Thomas and six others were facing the lower court proceedings for their alleged involvement in the scam. The lower court proceedings were stayed after Karunakaran moved the apex court.
Thomas was Kerala civil supplies secretary in 1992 when the scam took place.
The palm oil case was registered in 1999, accusing Thomas and others of a criminal conspiracy and causing a loss of Rs.2.32 crore to the state exchequer.
They were accused of importing 15,000 tonnes of palm oil from Malaysia at an inflated price for distribution through the fair price shops.
It may be recalled that a list of 117 government officials against whom court proceedings could not make headway for the lack of sanction under the Prevention of Corruption Act did not include the name of Thomas.
The list was submitted by Attorney General G. Vahanvati to the apex court earlier.
–Agencies