Lok Ayukta notice to VS son

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Acting on a petition by Kerala opposition leader Oommen Chandy, the state Lok Ayukta has summoned CM V S Achuthanandan's son V A Arun Kumar to appear before it on May 9.
On Thursday, Upa Lokayukta G S Sasidharan sent the notice to Kumar, an officer in the state-run Institute of Human Resources Development in Engineering, through a special messenger.
In the run-up to last month's assembly polls, the Congress-led Opposition in the state had charged Kumar of corruption. He was also accused of sabotaging a CBI probe into operations of state lotteries in Kerala, accepting bribe from sandalwood factory owners and faking an experience certificate for a PhD admission. The opposition also wanted an inquiry into foreign trips made by Kumar in his official capacity, claiming that they were made without obtaining required sanction from the concerned authorities.
VS said action would be taken on the allegations if they were put down in writing. Chandy then submitted a written complaint to Achuthanandan and sought action. VS, in turn, forwarded the matter to the home ministry with the recommendation that it be handed over to the Lok Ayukta.
On April 18, the Lok Ayokta directed Kumar and Chandy to appear before it on June 2. Chandy challeged this saying the anti-corruption watchdog was not equipped to look into the complaint as Kumar did not fall under the definition of Pubic Servant under the Lok Ayukta Act. Following this, the anti-corruption body decided to take up the matter earlier and issued fresh summons for May 9.