Court returns CBI charge sheet in controversial land grab case
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In a major embarrassment for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the special court has returned its charge sheet that exempted Salim Raj, who was the personal security officer of former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, in the sensational Kadakampally land grab case. CBI special court judge P V Balakrishnan found the charge sheet wanting on several counts.
The court found the CBI charge sheet lacking ground on dropping 22 persons from the list of the accused. The charge sheet had not named Salim Raj, his wife Shamshad, who is an employee of Land Revenue Commissioner's office and 20 other accused in the First Information Report (FIR).
The FIR had listed 27 persons as accused in the case. However, the CBI charge sheet named only five persons including a former deputy tehsildar and revenue officials.
The CBI stated that the accused illegally alienated 45.50 acres of land belonging to 170 persons in Kadakampally village by forging documents and manipulating entries in original title deed register with the support of officials.
The FIR had alleged that influential persons in the office of the then Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had conspired with revenue officials to avoid action against those who committed fraud. First investigated by Vigilance, the case was then handed over to the CBI following a High Court order.
CBI had arrested ten persons including Salim Raj in June 2015. The issue came to light after original owners of property went to remit property tax. To their surprise, the revenue officials refused to accept the tax pointing out that the land had been alienated without their knowledge.
