Anti-graft bureau against bail for 'tainted' ex-PWD secretary

The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) probing alleged corruption in the construction of a flyover here informed the Kerala High Court on Monday that retired bureaucrat T O Sooraj had amassed wealth from sources other than his known source of income during his tenure as the state PWD secretary.

Opposing the bail plea of Sooraj, arrested in connection with the case, the anti-corruption watchdog said the retired bureaucrat had purchased 6.68 acres of land with a residential complex in Edappally South village in the name of his son within three months after he, as the PWD secretary, released the mobilisation advance of Rs 8.25 crore to the contracting company on July 22, 2014 for building the flyover.

"Even though the deed value of this property is shown as Rs 1.04 crore, the probe has revealed that he had purchased the property for Rs 3.30 crore," R Asok Kumar, Deputy Superintendent of Police, VACB, said in an additional statement filed before the high court.

The VACB said ...