Former Kerala minister arrested from hospital in flyover graft case

The Kerala vigilance and anti-corruption bureau on Wednesday arrested former public works division minister V Okay Ebrahim Kunju in reference to alleged irregularities within the development of a flyover in Kochi.

Kunju (68), a Muslim MLA MLA from Kalamssery in Ernakulam district was arrested from a hospital after vigilance officers met the medical doctors treating him. For now, he’ll stay in hospital, officers stated.

Earlier In the morning, investigators raided his home in Aluva in Kochi. Kunju was earlier booked by the vigilance division after critical irregularities had been discovered within the development of the Palarivattom flyover.

The flyover which was accomplished in 2016 was constructed at a value of Rs 47.7 crore on National Highway 66 Bypass. It was closed for visitors in May after cracks appeared in a few of the pillars and girders. Later engineering specialists from IIT-Madras discovered that its design was defective and low-quality supplies had been used to construct the 750-metre lengthy bridge.

The authorities then approached Metro Man E Sreedharan and he additionally favoured demolition of the flyover to construct a brand new one. Now the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation is rebuilding the flyover below the supervision of Sreedharan.

A case was registered by the vigilance division which arrested former PWD secretary TO Sooraj and three others in August in reference to alleged irregularities. After his arrest Sooraj, a controversial IAS officer, stated he was made a scapegoat. Though Kunju was interrogated a few occasions he was let off. Sooraj is now out on bail.

The three others who had been arrested together with Sooraj had been Sumii Goyal, maging director of development agency RDS Projects Ltd, Benny Paul of Kitco, technical marketing consultant and P D Thankacchan of GM of Roads and Birdges Development Corporation of Kerala

Kunju’s arrest on Wednesday has kicked off an issue. The opposition Congress and Muslim League stated it was politically motivated and was supposed to distract consideration from the gold smuggling and drug circumstances. “It was a politically motivated move. The government which is neck deep in corruption wanted to save its face somehow,” stated opposition chief Ramesh Chennithala.

But CPI(M) state secretary A Vijayaraghavan stated the arrest was a pure course of after the investigation.

The defective flyover additionally triggered a blame sport between the opposition UDF and ruling LDF (Left Democratic Front). The ruling coalition stated the earlier authorities was answerable for the mess however the UDF claimed the current dispensation had given the health certificates and inaugurated the flyover with a lot fanfare.