Kerala orders Judicial probe on former PWD Min

Thiruvananthapuram, Sept 6: Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan today said the Government had decided to order a Judicial probe into the alleged land deal by former Public Works Department Minister T U Kuruvila and his family.

Briefing State Cabinet decisions here, he said a decision in this regard was taken at the Cabinet meeting to probe the issue by a sitting judge.

Mr Achuthandan said the Government would request the High Court to get the service of a sitting judge to probe the alleged land deal.

Mr Kuruviala, a nominee of the Kerala Congress (Josepa) had forced to relinquish his office following an allegation that he and his family members had been involved in an illegal land deal at Rajakumari Village in Idukki district.

The Cabinet also decided to provide 10 cents of land and Rs three lakh as a gift to N V Pradeep Kumar, who was instrumental in winning the coveted Nehru Cup, for constructing a house in his native place, he said.

Mr Achuthanadan said the Government had also decided to order for a vigilance probe into the deal of smart card by the Motor Vehicle Department during the previous UDF Government after cancelling the orders.

The Government would release a sum of Rs 1.75 crore to reconstruct bunds at Kuttanad areas in affected the monsoon havoc.

UNI