Palmolein oil scam: Thiruvananthapuram vigilance court posts trial to Feb. 26

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 11 (ANI): A vigilance court here on Friday posted the trial in the multi-crore Palmolein oil scam involving Chief Vigilance Commissioner P J Thomas to February 26.

Enquiry Commissioner and Special Judge S Jagadees adjourned the case, as the documents related to the case were yet to be received at the court from the apex court.

Earlier on January 12, the court posted the trail in the case to January 25.

The Supreme Court had on January 11 allowed the Kerala Government to go ahead with the trial in the Palmolein oil scam.

The Kerala Government had earlier moved the apex court seeking vacation of its stay on the trial in the case.

The Supreme Court, through an interim order in 2007, had stayed further proceedings in the lower court while considering a petition filed by former Chief Minister K Karunakaran.

The charge sheet in the case was filed in 2000 against Karunakaran and seven senior state government officials, including Thomas, who was then Kerala Food Secretary.

The then Chief Secretary of the state, besides Additional Secretary and Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation's Managing Director G G Thomas are also named as an accused in the FIR.

According to the charge sheet, filed under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code, the accused caused the exchequer a loss of Rs 2.32 crore by importing Palmolein through a Singapore-based firm at exorbitant rates.

In November 2005, the Kerala Government had decided to move the trial court to withdraw the prosecution against Karunakaran. (ANI)