The Kerala High Court Friday ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe disproportionate assets allegations against former chief secretary K M Abraham. Abraham is the chief principal secretary to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The court ordered the probe on the back of a petition from activist Jomon Puthenpurackal, who had previously approached the state vigilance and anti-corruption bureau (VACB) with the allegation. The VACB probe had found there was no evidence to support the allegation and a vigilance court in 2017 had rejected his complaint, prompting Puthanpurackal to approach the HC. In its order, the HC said that a careful analysis of the preliminary enquiry report and the other materials placed before the court, “prima facie, it is established that respondent (Abraham) had movable and immovable properties disproportionate to his known sources of income…there are sufficient facts constituting the offence under Section 13(1)(e) read with Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The materials prima facie reveal a cognizable offence warranting registration of a crime and investigation”. Referring to the vigilance probe, the court said, "Strangely enough, the enquiry report was scrutinised and verified by the Director of the VACB. There was a deliberate attempt to save respondent (Abraham) on the part of the State Vigilance.’’ Abraham is a high-profile bureaucrat in Kerala who currently enjoys cabinet rank despite being an ex-chief secretary. He is also the chief executive officer of the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board, the state’s flagship entity for mobilising funds for infra development. He had been chief secretary during the previous term of the Left Democratic Front government and was made chief principal secretary of the chief minister in 2021 after superannuation. When contacted for a reaction on the HC directive, Abraham said it was “better for me not to react now”.’
