The Court of Enquiry Commissioner and Special Judge, Kottayam, has ordered the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) to proceed with the investigation against the Water Resources Minister P J Joseph for encroaching government land in Idukki district.
Special Court Judge S Soman also directed VACB officials to start investigation against former Revenue minister K E Ismail for taking a supportive stance to Joseph while the former was in office during 1996-2001. The court order was in response to a complaint filed by George Vattukulam, a social activist and president of Malayalavedi. According to the complainant, P J Joseph encroached government land to the tune of 75 acres for constructing a resort called Green Berg Resorts in the name of benamis at Nadukani in Idukki, even when Joseph holds documents of 15 acres of valid land.
He also usurped another eight acres of land from Adivasis under the cover of Gandhi Study centre at Nadukani violating all the norms. Moreover, Joseph encroached acres of land at Purappuzha village under the cover of an orphanage, the complainant George Vattukulam alleged in his complaint.
Earlier, according to the complaint filed by George at the Vigilance Court, Thrissur, in December, 2007, the court ordered the VACB director to conduct an inquiry into the matter. Based on this directive, Kottayam East range DySP V J Joy conducted an inquiry and submitted its report in the Court, the inquiry officer in his report stated that allegations raised in the case could not be substantiated. However, the Court of Enquiry Commissioner and Special Judge S Soman dismissed the report and ordered a further inquiry into the case.
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