‘Is Vigilance masterless?’

Kochi: The

high court

on Monday asked whether

Vigilance

and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) doesn’t have a director at present and whether it’s a

masterless

agency.

A single bench of the court raised the query about the status of the top post of VACB while considering a petition filed by former minister Anoop Jacob challenging an FIR registered by VACB against him.

The case being considered by the court relates to suspension of the licence of a ration dealer following a surprise check conducted on October 14, 2015 by the district supply officer. The case against Anoop Jacob was registered by VACB on a complaint filed by V O Augusthy of Moolamattom alleging that the suspension was cancelled at the instance of Anoop, who was the civil supplies minister then.

In the petition filed before the high court, Anoop has contended that he was only exercising his powers as a minister and that the case is unnecessary. Considering the petition, the court had asked VACB to inform whether any offence is made out.

In an earlier hearing in March this year, the court had warned that it would impose a fine on the complainant against Anoop if he does not produce materials to substantiate the allegations raised against the former minister. The court issued a warning to the complainant against Anoop after VACB informed it that it could not gather any evidence showing that he had abused his office as alleged. tnn