Disproportionate assets case: CBI lodges FIR against KM Abraham

Thiruvananthapuram: The CBI has registered a case against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's Chief Principal Secretary, KM Abraham, in connection with the illegal acquisition of assets. The central investigation agency's action follows a High Court order. It is reported that the case was registered under the sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, and the FIR will be submitted to the CBI court in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday.

It is alleged that the assets acquired by KM Abraham, including an apartment worth three crore rupees in Mumbai, an apartment worth one crore in Thiruvananthapuram, and a shopping complex worth eight crore rupees in Kadapakkada, Kollam, are assets in excess of income. The complaint was initially investigated by the state vigilance. When Jacob Thomas was the vigilance director, the officials raided KM Abraham's house, which caused a huge controversy. To this, IAS officers protested by going on a pen-down strike.

After Jacob Thomas stepped down as director of state vigilance, KM Abraham got a clean chit in the case. The Thiruvananthapuram Vigilance Court rejected the request for further investigation in 2017. Jomon Puthen Purakkal approached the High Court in 2018, demanding a CBI investigation into the case. The High Court ordered a CBI investigation into the case on the 11th of this month. The court assessed that there was a planned attempt to save Abraham. The court also handed over the case to the CBI, stating that there was prima facie evidence of assets exceeding income.