SOUTH
In a huge embarrassment for the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala, Vigilance Court has ordered an inquiry against former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and his nine Cabinet colleagues for allegedly appointing their kith and kin in key posts while it was in power.
Thiruvananthapuram Vigilance Court ordered on Friday that the Vigilance and Anti-corruption Bureau (VACB) start an investigation into allegations of nepotism against Oommen Chandy and nine ministers of his cabinet.
The charges of nepotism against former UDF government in Kerala surfaced when similar allegations cropped up against EP Jayarajan, who was the Industrial Minister in Left government in Kerala. Jayarajan had to resign from Pinarayi Vijayan ministry following the controversy.
On Friday, the VACB, which is probing the allegations against Jayarajan, informed the court that it was ready to conduct an investigation into the allegations against UDF as well. The court ordered that the anti-corruption watchdog should submit primary report by 6 February, 2017.