Ex-minister denied bail in flyover scam
KOCHI: A court in Kerala rejected the bail application by former Public Works Department minister and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) legislator VK Ebrahim Kunju, 68, who was arrested by the Vigilance and Anti-corruption Bureau (VACB) in connection with the Palarivatom flyover scam.
The Moovatupuzha Vigilance court on Thursday also granted custody of Kunju, who is presently undergoing treatment for cancer at the Lakeshore Hospital here, for one day for interrogation.
The vigilance has been granted permission to interrogate Ebrahim Kunju, who is presently in judicial custody for two weeks, at the hospital on Nov.30 between 9am to 12pm and 3pm to 5pm.
The court has also directed the officials to ensure they undergo COVID-19 tests prior to questioning.
Not more than three people must be present during questioning and continuous interrogation for more than hour should be avoided. Ater every hour, 15-minute break must be given. Medical treatment should not be interrupted at any cost.
The probe officials must not exert pressure or try to intimidate the accused.
Earlier, the VACB had informed the court that the probe could not go any further without questioning the ex-minister in custody.
The court also pointed out the District Medical Officer’s report which stated that Kunju should continue the treatment in the private hospital as the government hospital lacked the requisite facilities.
The court made it clear that Kunju’s condition was serious and he cannot be sent to police custody.
In response to the DMO’S report, the vigilance prosecutor had argued that the investigation team was prepared to question Kunju in the hospital for four days.
A Medical Board had found that Kunju was undergoing treatment for multiple myeloma including chemotherapy sessions, with the next cycle set to commence next week.
Kunju, representing Kalamassery constituency in the state Assembly, was interrogated multiple times in the past by the agency in connection with the case.
According to the Vigilance, Kunju sanctioned interest-free funds to the contracting company, which had built the flyover, closed ater it developed cracks within a year of its inauguration in 2016.