Lift Stay On CBI Probe Against Former Kerala Chief Secy Abraham: Petitioner Tells SC

(MENAFN- IANS) New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 8 (IANS) Petitioner Jomon Puthenpurackal on Tuesday approached the Supreme Court seeking removal of the interim stay on the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigation into alleged disproportionate assets of retired former Kerala Chief Secretary K.M. Abraham.

In a counter-affidavit filed before the Supreme Court, Jomon contended that there was no legal basis to halt the CBI probe and urged the court to allow the investigation to proceed.

The CBI has also opposed Abraham's petition seeking to stop the investigation.

In its affidavit, CBI Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Renuka Devi, who is also the Investigating Officer of the agency's Kochi Anti-Corruption unit, said that Abraham's plea was not maintainable and should be dismissed.

The case relates to alleged possession of assets disproportionate to Abraham's known sources of income during the period from January 1, 2003, to December 31, 2015.

The Kerala High Court had ordered registration of an FIR and a CBI investigation on April 11, 2025.

The CBI registered the case on April 25.

Abraham subsequently approached the Supreme Court, which granted an interim stay on the probe.

A key issue before the Supreme Court is whether prior government sanction was required before investigating Abraham.

Jomon has said that no such sanction was necessary, relying on the 1984 Constitution Bench judgment in the R.S. Nayak-A.R. Antulay case.

He has also contended that Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, introduced through an amendment in 2018, cannot be applied retrospectively to alleged offences committed much earlier.

Jomon also alleged that an earlier Vigilance inquiry into Abraham's assets had been curtailed, with the period of investigation allegedly reduced from 2000-2015 to 2000-2009.

He claimed that the Kerala High Court had taken note of the issue.

The petitioner has also raised allegations regarding the non-disclosure of property details in mandatory statements submitted by government officials.

He referred to properties allegedly held in Kollam, Mumbai and Thiruvananthapuram, including a shopping complex, a flat in Mumbai and an apartment in the state capital Thiruvananthapuram.

Jomon said Abraham's allegation that the High Court proceedings amounted to forum shopping could not be accepted.

He also added that Abraham had since resigned as CEO of Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board and as Chief Principal Secretary to the former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan after the change of government in Kerala.

Jomon said that allowing the CBI investigation to continue was in the larger public interest and that the stay, if continued at the initial stage of the probe, could impede efforts to establish the truth.

Following his retirement, Abraham occupied key posts in the Pinarayi Vijayan administration and was the trusted aide of Vijayan.

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