The trial of Chief Vigilance Commissioner P.J. Thomas in the palm oil import corruption case will continue, the Supreme Court ruled Tuesday.
The decks were cleared after the Supreme Court said former Kerala chief minister K. Karunakaran’s appeal against the trial in the case was infructuous following his death.
Thomas was Kerala civil supplies secretary in 1992 when the scam took place. Karunakaran was also facing trial in the case.
The palm oil case was registered in 1999, accusing Thomas and others of a criminal conspiracy and causing a loss of Rs.2.32 crore to the state exchequer.
They were accused of importing 15,000 tonnes of palm oil from Malaysia at an inflated price for distribution through the fair price shops.