HC asks government to file report in four weeks

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Monday granted four more weeks to the state government to submit a status report on the Vigilance probe against Arunkumar, son of Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan, based on the allegations raised by self-styled godman Santhosh Madhavan.The government pleader sought four more weeks to file a report on the investigation. A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice V Chitambaresh issued the directive while considering a petition filed by V K Raju, state general secretary of the Indian Lawyers Congress.The Vigilance probe was based on the allegation by  Santhosh Madhavan that he had paid `70 lakh to Arunkumar for reclaiming 120 acres of paddy field in Vadayar, Kottayam.According to the petitioner, no effective probe had been conducted into the allegation. Santhosh Madhavan, who was in jail, had filed a complaint about the matter to the then CM V S Achuthanandan on July 5, 2011. In the  complaint it was alleged that advocate Deepthi Prasannan had offered to help Santhosh Madhavan to convert the entire 120 acres. In this connection, she introduced Madhavan to Arunkumar, who offered his help. Deepthi had asked for a payment of `10 lakh to herself, and `70 lakh to Arunkumar. The amount was allegedly paid on October 7, 2006.According to Madhavan’s complaint, when he failed to get the permission for reclaiming the land, he demanded the money back. Later, he was arrested on various charges, allegedly because of the pressure exerted by Arunkumar.The petitioner pointed out that the probe officer wanted to raid Arunkumar’s residence, but could not do so as he was staying with VS.