In an unusual move, the Left Front government in Kerala has decided to conduct a judicial probe against central government agencies, with just ten days left for the state Assembly elections
The fresh move, which is pending Election Commission's ratification, comes close on the heels of a police case being registered against the Enforcement Directorate officials for allegedly pressuring the accused in the gold smuggling case to give statement against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and a couple of ministers.
The Kerala government's moves are part of the political strategy of the CPM-led Left Democratic Front to resist the serious allegations it is facing regarding the gold smuggling case.
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Apart from the probe by ED and Customs against Kerala government agencies, the Income Tax also initiated raids at the office of the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board on Thursday. The Chief Minister had strongly flayed the IT raids.
Government sources said that name of retired judge justice V K Mohankumar has been proposed for the judicial commission. The general matters to come under probe would be the allegation that the central agencies are trying to tarnish the Kerala government's image by misusing the probe against the gold smuggling accused. Detailed terms of reference would be issued soon.