The Kerala High Court on Friday, April 11, issued a crucial directive for a CBI investigation against KM Abraham, former Chief Secretary of Kerala, in a case concerning accumulation of wealth beyond known sources of income.
The judgment was delivered by Justice K. Babu on a petition submitted by well-known activist Jomon Puthenpurackal.
"The Court finds it appropriate to entrust the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to ensure an impartial and fair investigation," – Justice K. Babu stated in the order.
The petition alleged that KM Abraham, during his tenure as Additional Chief Secretary of the Finance Department, had amassed assets disproportionate to his official income.
According to the petitioner, the sources of wealth accumulated by Abraham raised serious concerns about financial irregularities and demanded an independent investigation.
Earlier, the matter had been investigated by the Vigilance Department, which later closed the complaint. However, the High Court observed that a more transparent investigation was required in public interest.
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"The previous enquiry conducted by the Vigilance lacks sufficient depth, and hence the case must be handed over to the CBI," – observed the Kerala High Court.
In its order, the High Court directed the Vigilance Department to transfer all relevant files and documents related to the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation. The Court specifically instructed that the Kochi unit of the CBI shall carry out the probe.
This directive ensures that the investigation is done under central authority, away from any possible influence or bias that could arise at the state level.
At present, KM Abraham holds two significant positions:
- He serves as the Chief Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister of Kerala.
- He is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB).
Due to these current roles and the seriousness of the allegations, the Court considered it essential to involve a central investigative agency like the CBI to maintain the integrity of the enquiry process.
“Public confidence in the justice system demands a thorough and neutral investigation, particularly when senior public officials are involved,” – said the Court in its concluding remarks.
Case Title: Jomon Puthenpurackal v State of Kerala
Case No: Crl.MC 8044/ 2018
