The High Court Seeks Government’s Response to VJ Kurian’s Plea Against Vigilance Investigation

On Monday, the High Court asked the state government for its opinion about the case filed by VJ Kurian, the former managing director of Cochin International Airport Ltd., which contested the decision of Special Judge (Vigilance), Muvattupuzha. A complaint claiming that Kurian’s benami had improperly acquired roughly 1,20,000 shares of the company through the employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) had been ordered a speedy verification by the Vigilance Court.

Justice Kauser Edappagath declines to stay the quick verification and asked the prosecution to explain whether the petitioner will come under the definition of a public servant. Counsel for the petitioner, senior advocate P Vijayabhanu and advocate Thomas J Anakkallungal, made the claim that CIAL is not a government company as defined by the Companies Act. According to the Supreme Court, CIAL is not a government-owned company and is not required by law to carry out any official functions.

The request for rapid verification appears to be predicated on the incorrect assumption that CIAL had an ESOP plan, which is untrue. Additionally, it was claimed that CIAL never had an ESOP scheme within the organisation, wherein now the government has asked to confirm its existence.

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