HC refuses to stay vigilance probe against Arun

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Wednesday refused to stay the Single Judge’s order upholding the government’s decisions to hold a Vigilance inquiry into various allegations levelled against V A Arunkumar, son of Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan. The court also issued a notice to the state government in this regard.  A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice P R Ramachandra Menon passed the order while considering an appeal filed by Arunkumar challenging the Vigilance inquiry.Arunkumar, who was the Additional Director of IHRD, pointed out that the allegations were raised by the then Opposition Leader Oommen Chandy on the eve of the Assembly elections. The then Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan had referred it to the Lok Ayukta.Meanwhile, Chandy, after assuming the office of the Chief Minister, ordered a Vigilance probe into the allegations and asked the Registry of the Lok Ayukta to take steps to withdraw the petition pending before it. The petitioner contended that once a complaint was referred to the Lok Ayukta, under Section 7(3) of the Kerala Lok Ayukta Act 1999, the state government has no power to withdraw such reference.