Kochi: The role of former Kerala Public Works Department (PWD) Minister V K Ebrahim Kunju's in the Palarivattom flyover scam is being scrutinised by the anti-graft watchdog.

The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau has informed the Kerala High Court that it was closely examining his role in the alleged irregularities in the construction of the flyover which the government wants to demolish over its structural weakness.

The probe is being extended to examine the role of certain political leaders in the conspiracy. Former PWD secretary T O Sooraj, who has been arrested over the scam, had raised allegations against the ex-minister is his bail plea and before the reporters. The Vigilance informed the court that the truth has to be ascertained. Vigilance DySP R Ashok made this submission in Sooraj's bail plea.

The Vigilance said that several aspects, including the quality of the materials used and laxity in supervision of the flyover work, have to be probed. It said that 17 people are under the scanner.

The Palarivattom flyover was opened to public in 2016. However, after cracks were detected on the pillars, it was closed for traffic on May 1, 2019.

Along with Sooraj, Sumit Goel, MD of RDS Project Ltd; and MT Thankachan, former AGM of Roads and Bridges Development Corporation of Kerala Limited (RBDCK) and Benny Paul, KITCO joint general manager, were arrested in the case.

Sooraj had claimed that when the ex-minister decided to give advance funds to the construction company, RDS Projects, it was he who sought to levy interest from the firm. The Vigilance said that Sooraj's claims were wrong and that the ex-minister did not make any observation on levying interest. Instead of seeking clarity on the matter from the ex-minister, the former secretary decided on his own to levy seven per cent interest for Rs 8.25 crore. If the construction firm had taken the loan from other sources, it would have had to give 14 per cent interest.

The request for the mobilisation advance was allegedly made as a result of a conspiracy plotted between Sooraj, who was also the Road Fund Board member secretary, Goel and Thankachan.

The probe team was granted permission to interrogate T O Sooraj on Wednesday.

AG too had flagged issue

Even the Accountant General (AG) had criticised the move to give huge amounts to the builder for low-interest rates especially when the government was taking loans with interests from public sector undertakings. The Kerala government was also not involved in deciding the interest rate.

Even the contract deal of the flyover project does not mention that advance amount would be extended for its construction. The AG had noted that if it were so then the contractor would have quoted a much lesser amount.

On Sooraj's stand

The Vigilance also found fault with Sooraj's claim that that the PWD has never levied interest and that advance funds of Rs 25 crore were released for the Edappally flyover construction in Kochi.

In fact the Edappally flyover was built by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), a central government establishment, and is not a private contractor like the RDS Projects. '

Sooraj's stand that he was only PWD Secretary for just five months was irrelevant to the case, the Vigilance said. There were other Vigilance cases against him. And that his benami dealings too have to be probe.

The Vigilance pointed out that as he was a departmental secretary, he is likely to influence his former colleagues if he was granted bail.

Next hearing

The bail plea given by all four accused would again be considered by the High Court on September 27.

Sumit Goel's advocate told the court the company had incurred more than Rs 600 crore loses and was missing out on several of its projects.

Thankachan's counsel said that he had no role in the scam. He explained that as the works for the Kochi Metro were ongoing, they could not procure construction materials without giving the money. But the Vigilance said that Thankachan, an engineer, had the responsibility to ensure the quality of the works

The High Court has also asked the Vigilance to submit the case diary on the Palarivattom flyover scam.