Kerala High Court Slams Vijayan Govt For ‘Shielding The Corrupt’ In Cashew Import Scam

The Kerala High Court on Monday sharply criticised the Pinarayi Vijayan government. It said the government refused to grant the CBI permission to prosecute two key accused in the multi-crore Cashew Development Corporation corruption case.

The Single Bench questioned why the state was ‘protecting the corrupt.’ It warned that it would record this observation if the government continued to block prosecution.

The court’s criticism targeted the government’s decision to deny sanction for former Corporation chairman and Congress leader R Chandrasekharan.

It also targeted the denial of sanction for the former Managing Director, PA Ratheesh.

The Bench said a government committed to the rule of law should not appear to shield individuals facing serious corruption allegations.

Renewed Pressure Mounts

The petition challenging the denial of a sanction will be heard next week.

The CBI had sought prosecution sanction after uncovering large-scale irregularities in cashew imports worth around ₹500 crore.

The agency examined transactions from 2006 to 2015 following the High Court’s order for a CBI probe.

The CBI investigated the case for nearly five years and reported substantial financial discrepancies.

It then submitted its final report, which prompted its request for permission to prosecute.

Earlier, the High Court had quashed the state’s first refusal and directed the government to reconsider the request within 45 days.

However, after re-examining the matter, the Industries Department again rejected the plea.

In its latest denial, the state government claimed that the CBI presented no new evidence beyond what appeared in its original report.

It argued that the CBI pointed out only procedural lapses and administrative errors. It said the agency failed to prove that the accused gained illegal benefits, misused their positions, or acted with criminal intent.

The CBI maintains that the magnitude and pattern of the irregularities justify prosecution and insists that the findings warrant a trial.

With the High Court’s sharp remarks now on record, the state government faces renewed scrutiny when the matter comes up again next week.

The court’s intervention has intensified pressure on the administration to justify its repeated refusal.

It has forced the government to explain why it continues to block action in the case. It has also pressured the administration to justify its stance despite significant financial misconduct and a prolonged investigation.

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