Kallada Irrigation Project scam: Kerala HC upholds prison term, fine awarded to two

The Kerala High Court has upheld a special court’s award of three years of rigorous imprisonment to a contractor and a Superintending Engineer of the Irrigation department in connection with the Kallada Irrigation Project’s Kulasekharapuram distributory canal scam.

Apart from three years’ rigorous imprisonment and a year’s simple imprisonment, a Vigilance special court had awarded the contractor T.O. Abraham and the Superintending Engineer K.K. Philip a fine of ₹17 lakh.

Dismissing their appeal, a Bench of Justice A. Badharudeen observed that Mr. Philip on his retirement day had granted the additional claims that Mr. Abraham had demanded in a ‘hurry-burry manner.’ It was also observed that he granted amounts to various contractors on the day, in a similar way, causing huge loss to the State exchequer.

In 1988

The scam dates back to 1988, when the work on a 700-m portion of the distributory canal was entrusted to Mr. Abraham for ₹24.45 lakh, to be completed in nine months. Apart from the alleged delay in completing the work, the contractor allegedly entered into sub-contracts to complete the work. In addition, he was charged with allegedly misrepresenting the terms of the agreement and getting ₹34.78 lakh in excess of the original tendered amount, through criminal conspiracy with Irrigation department officials.

After trial, the Vigilance special court awarded them the prison term and fine, which they challenged before the High Court. With Mr. Philip dying while the trial was on, the court directed that the fine amount of ₹17 lakh be collected from his legal heirs.

Those who appeared before the court on behalf of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau were Special Government Pleaders A. Rajesh and S. Rekha.