Kerala HC admits plea seeking CBI probe into lottery irregularities

The Kerala High court today admitted a petition seeking CBI probe into the alleged irregularities in the conduct of other state lotteries in Kerala.

The ball is in the court of the Central Government. The Central Government has to take action in this regard, a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Mr J. Chelemeswar and Mr P.R. Ramachandra Menon said while issuing notices to the Central and State Government, Bhutan and Sikkim governments and the CBI.

The petition was filed by Mr V.D. Sateeshan, Congress MLA, alleging that there were large-scale irregularities in the conduct of lotteries by the Bhutan and Sikkim governments.

The Bench also expressed its displeasure on the inaction of the Central Government in not taking any action despite a complaint from the Chief Minister of the state in this regard.

The matter requires examination. An MLA of the ruling party in the Central Government had to approach the court for intervention in the matter, the Bench observed.

When the senior counsel appearing for the Sikkim Government disputed the maintainability of the petition pointing that the vigilance report preferred by the petitioner was considered by the High Court in 2006 judgment, the Bench observed that there is “something more than vigilance report in the chief minister’s letter’’.

The State Government reiterated that they have not sought dismissal of the petition, but stand for CBI investigation. It was also contended by the Government that public interest and reasons projected by the petitioner were “not bonafide’’.

The court said even though political interest is alleged by both the parties, following the allegations raised by the petitioner, the court has constitutional obligation to enquire into the matter. The petition has been posted after two weeks.

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