Kerala HC moved for CBI inquiry into Merchiston Estate deal

Kochi, Oct 3 (UNI) Two writ petitions were filed before the Kerala High Court today, seeking a CBI inquiry into the Merchiston land deal, which also involves the Indian Space Research Organisation's newly set up Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology.

Both cases would come up for admission tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the petition filed by ISRO, challenging the eviction notice issued by the Divisional Forest Officer, Thiruvananthapuram, was referred to a division bench by Mr Justice Antony Dominique as two other writ petitions on the matter were already pending before it.

Seeking a CBI inquiry into the Merchiston Estate deal, petitioner B Raghunathan Nair of Thiruvananthapuram also sought quashing of the order, dated June 12, 2007, of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Thiruvananthapuram, denotifying an area of 24.40 acres of the estate as ecologically fragile land.

The petition, filed by K S Sekharan of Thrissur, contended that with ISRO being a Central agency, a Central agnecy should investigate into the matter.

The vigilance inquiry ordered by the Kerala Government in the matter was not sufficient as the State itself was an accused, he submitted.

UNI