KOCHI: Stating that there is a strong case against former Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan in the land allotment case, the state government on Thursday submitted before the Kerala High Court that the former Chief Minister had conspired and connived with the other accused to favour his kin in the allotment of government land.Director General of Prosecutions (DGP) T Asaf Ali submitted in a statement that the prosecution had ample oral and documentary evidence against the accused. “The investigation of the case is progressing steadily. On the basis of the evidence collected so far, a strong case has been made out against all the accused,” the DGP said.The Vigilance had registered a case in connection with the allotment of 2.33 acres of government land to T K Soman, an ex-serviceman.An FIR was registered against eight persons, with charges ranging from criminal conspiracy, cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property and causing disappearance of evidence of offence, giving false information to screen offenders and several other provisions of the Prevention of Corruption of Act, 1988.“The FIR discloses serious criminal misconducts, fraud and foul play committed by Soman and others, resulting in substantial losses to the government. So far, the Vigilance has questioned 14 witnesses and recorded their statements. Thirty incriminating documents have also been recovered,” the government submitted. The investigating team is planning to question 60 important witnesses, including former ministers and other government officials. The Call Data Records of the officials also need to be collected, the DGP said, and added that Soman was not legally entitled to get the land assigned in his name. Documents of various official letters signed by V S Achuthanandan and other government officials regarding the land allotment, were also submitted before the court. The DGP pointed out that the illegal activity took place despite the Revenue Department’s opposition. “These things happened in spite of the objections raised by the Revenue Department, in total violation of the rules of procedures with respect to the land,” he said.The state also submitted that an in-depth investigation is under way to unearth further details against the individuals involved in the case.
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