Vigilance recommends CBI probe against VD Satheesan over alleged foreign funding in ‘Punarjani’ project

The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) has recommended a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe against Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, V.D. Satheesan, over alleged receipt of foreign funds in connection with the ‘Punarjani’ project.

It has been reported that the VACB’s investigation into allegations of fraud and the illegal diversion of funds for the ‘Punarjani’ rehabilitation project has indicated possible violations of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), 2010.

Advertisement

According to the Vigilance, discrepancies were found in funds collected from the United Kingdom through a foundation, which the VACB has identified as a violation of provisions under the FCRA. A report recommending a CBI investigation has been submitted to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

As per the VACB report, Satheesan allegedly facilitated the collection of nearly ₹20 lakh from individuals in the UK through a foundation named Manappattu. The report states that the funds were routed through a UK-based NGO, the Midland International Aid Trust, into the foundation’s FCRA account.

It further notes that GBP 22,500 (approximately ₹19.95 lakh) was collected from various individuals in the UK and transferred to the foundation’s account. The Vigilance department contends that this constitutes a violation of Section 3 of the FCRA, which prohibits politicians from accepting foreign contributions.

Reacting to the Vigilance recommendation for a CBI probe, Satheesan said that the state’s Vigilance wing had earlier investigated the same allegations and dropped them due to lack of evidence. “If the plan is to keep a case hanging over me in January because elections might be announced in March, then so be it,” he told mediapersons in Sulthan Bathery.

“If a CBI investigation is announced two months before the elections, the people of Kerala have the common sense to understand the intent behind it,” Satheesan added.

The Congress leadership has rallied behind Satheesan, dismissing the move as a desperate political stunt by the CPI(M) ahead of the Assembly elections. Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala said the case was a political ploy by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan as elections draw near.

Meanwhile, a Vigilance report stating that a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act against Satheesan would not stand has come to light. The report, submitted by the Vigilance Deputy Inspector General to the Vigilance Director in September last year, states that there is no evidence of money having been received in Satheesan’s account and that he could not be found to have committed any offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act.