Supreme Court criticizes Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, V.S. Achuthanandan for unduly delaying the ‘Palmolein case’ for his political gains

The Supreme Court on Monday strongly criticized Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala legislative Assembly, Sri. V.S. Achuthanandan for unduly delaying the ‘Palmolein case’ for his political gains. The Apex Court remarked that it appeared that the politician was trying to fish in muddy waters.

 

Supreme Court has criticized the Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, V.S. Achuthanandan for unduly delaying the ‘Palmolein case’ for his political gains

 

Pointing out that Sri. Achuthanandan was frequently approaching the Supreme Court with additional documents, the Apex Court made it clear that such acts to unnecessarily delay the proceedings cannot be accepted. 

The Supreme Court also warned V.S. Achuthanandan that such acts on his part would only force the Court to take action against him.

 

V.S. Achuthanandan had approached the Supreme Court challenging the notification issued by the Government of Kerala to withdraw the ‘Palmolein case’. He has also sought for an order to the investigating agency to make the Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy an accused in the case.'

The palmolein case relates to certain irregularities in connection with the decision taken in 1991 by the then chief Minister of Kerala (late) Sri. K. Karunakaran with the junction of the then minister for Civil Supplies, Sri.T.H Mustafa and some Government Secretaries to import 30000 metric tonnes of Palmolein from Singapore to meet the requirements of the people of Kerala in connection with some festival which resulted in a heavy loss to the state exchequer.

The prosecution case is that the then Chief Minister, late Sri.K.Karunakaran got this decision approved by cabinet, without discussing and disclosing the real facts concerning the said import, and thus imported that much quantity of Palmolein through the exporter, Power and Energy Ltd., Singapore, with the assistance of Mala Export Corporation, Chennai, without inviting global tenders and totally in violation of the Store Purchase Rules, with the object of making unlawful benefits, and thus causing heavy loss to the state exchequer.

Reacting to Supreme Court's harsh criticism against him, Sri.V.S. Achuthanandan iss reported to have said that he is ready to correct any misconceptions the Apex Court may have about the Palmolein case.

 

Such court statements will not affect his fight against corruption, the Opposition leader added.

In a separate but related development, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president VM Sudheeran on Monday said that the Apex Court's observation in the ‘palmolein case’ is a strict warning against Achuthanandan's style of functioning.

 

Achuthanandan follows a method of misusing the judiciary for political gains, Sudheeran said in a press note released for publication in Thiruvananthapuram.