Thiruvananthapuram, October 24 — The Kerala government on Friday (October 23) ordered an anti-corruption investigation against former Kannur district panchayat president and Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader P.P. Divya, officials said.
Source: The Hindu
Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala sanctioned the inquiry under Section 17(A) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, opening the door to a Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) investigation, The Hindu reported. The Home Department has issued formal directives to begin a preliminary inquiry, according to a separate report.
Source: The Indian Messenger
The complaint, filed by Kerala Students Union (KSU) state vice-president Mohammed Shammas, alleges that a Rs 12-crore contract (yaani Rs 12 crore — 1,200 lakh rupees) to construct modular toilets was awarded to a private firm, Carton India, without inviting open tenders, bypassing competitive bidding. The complainant alleges the firm is a benami or proxy linked to Divya — an allegation that has not been proved.
Source: The Hindu
Vigilance officials say the VACB will first conduct a preliminary inquiry to decide whether to register an FIR. One report said Divya's husband and former Kannur district panchayat secretary Abdul Latheef have also been named as respondents in the probe order, and that investigators will examine whether any criminal conspiracy or illicit financial transactions were involved — matters that remain under investigation.
Source: The Indian Messenger
Divya was earlier demoted within the CPI(M) after the 2024 controversy surrounding the death of Kannur additional district magistrate K. Naveen Babu, a separate matter in which proceedings are continuing. No court finding has been made on the tender allegations reported here, and Divya is entitled to respond to the inquiry.
Source: Particle