KERALA HIGH COURT EXTENDS STAY ON VIGILANCE COURT’S ORDER DIRECTING STATE TO PRODUCE FILES IN BREWERY LICENCE CASE

The Kerala High Court in the case State of Kerala v. Ramesh Chennithala observed and extended its stay on the Thiruvanathapuram vigilance court order, wherein the court had directed the State to produce the files related to the brewery allotment corruption case.

The bench comprising of Justice K. Babu observed and has extended the stay while considering a plea filed by the State Government challenging the vigilance court order.

In the present case, it pertains to the alleged graft in the issuance of brewery licences by the previous administration of the ruling party. Thus, the approvals for breweries were allegedly given to three distilleries but it was revoked after the opposition challenged the same.

It was observed that the Senior Congress Leader Ramesh Chennithala thereafter approached the Vigilance Court alleging nepotism and corruption in the allocation of the licences of breweries from 2016 to 2021 and had named former Excise Minister T.P. Ramakrishnan and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan as respondents. Documents were sought by Chennithala relating to the case under Section 17 A of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Earlier, the plea was allowed by the Thiruvananthapuram Special Viligance Court, wherein directing the Principal Secretary (Tax) to submit the government files pertaining to the sanction given for the said breweries.

While challenging the same, the State had moved the High Court. It was also prayed by the State that the High Court be pleased to quash all the proceedings pending before the Vigilance court in the case.

Further, it was argued that the complaint filed by the Congress leader did not disclose any offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act while adding that the Vigilance court had no power to conduct an inquiry over a private complaint without production of sanction from the State in the present matter.

Accordingly, the matter will be heard on 9th August.