Kochi: State industries department principal secretary A P M Muhamed Hanish has approached the Kerala High Court with an interlocutory application seeking exemption from personal appearance on May 22 in a contempt case related to the alleged cashew corporation graft case. The single bench had earlier directed Hanish to appear in person on May 18 for further proceedings. However, when the matter was taken up on that day, he failed to comply, leading the court to adjourn the case to May 22 for his appearance.
Hanish's Plea for Exemption
Hanish has now filed an interlocutory application before the bench, stating that he has already filed an intra-court appeal against the single bench order that mandated his personal appearance in the contempt proceedings. He further submitted that while disposing of his petition challenging the impugned order, the Supreme Court had directed him to avail the remedy of an intra-court appeal under Section 5 of the Kerala High Court Act. According to Hanish, the appeal is being filed, but the change in leadership at the office of the advocate general, following the change in the state government, has delayed the processing and numbering of the appeal. He contended that unless exempted from personal appearance, he would suffer irreparable injury and hardship. He also expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to the court due to his non-appearance.
Background of the Contempt Case
The contempt proceedings arise from allegations of large-scale corruption in the import and purchase of cashews by the Kerala State Cashew Development Corporation (KSCDC). The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had earlier investigated the allegations pursuant to a high court order issued on a petition filed by Kadakampally Manoj of Kollam. The CBI arraigned former KSCDC chairman and INTUC state president R Chandrasekharan, former managing director K A Ratheesh, and two others as accused in the case. Before filing its final report, the CBI sought prosecution sanction from the state industries department under the Prevention of Corruption Act. However, the request was repeatedly denied, leading to the present contempt petition against the principal secretary. The case continues to draw attention as it involves high-ranking officials and allegations of significant financial irregularities in a state-owned corporation.
