Governor's nod for ex-CM's prosecution

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Nov 27 (UNI) — Kerala Governor Sukhdev Singh Kang has reportedly given the go-ahead to prosecute former Congress Chief Minister K. Karunakaran and former Food and Civil Supplies Minister T.H. Mustapha in the sensational palmolein import case.

Reliable sources said here tonight that the Governor signed the file concerned today.

Earlier in the day, Finance Minister T. Sivasada Menon called on the Governor. Mr Menon told mediapersons that this was a courtesy visit and had nothing to do with the palmolein case.

The Governor's nod is required for the prosecution of public persons under Section 197 of the CrPC.

The clearance of the Governor to prosecute Mr Karunakaran (83) and Mr Mustapha was sought in the wake of the filing of the charge sheet by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau on November 23 in the vigilance court in connection with the import of 15,000 tonnes of palmolein from Malaysia in 1992, causing a loss of Rs 2.32 crore to the state exchequer.