In the midst of the raging Nelliampathy row, Finance Minister K M Mani and Government Chief Whip P C George have landed in trouble with the Thrissur vigilance court on Tuesday ordering a probe against them in a case related to the Nelliampathy estate owners.
While considering a group of petitions filed by George Vattukulam, chairman of the Malayala Vedi, a social outfit, and a social activist P D Joseph, vigilance court judge V Bhaskaran directed the Palakkad vigilance DySP to investigate the matter and submit its report in the court on December 14.
The court also ordered probe against five estate owners of Meera Floor, Cherunelly, Mankode, Thoothanpara and Rajakkad in connection with the case.
In their petition, they alleged that Mani and George had out of the way helped estate owners to renew the lease deeds of forest land they had occupied.
Besides, the duo had helped them in further encroachment, pledging forest land and possessing title deeds-expired estates, they alleged.
Vattukulam also alleged that Mani, who was in charge, had not initiated any action against the Advocate- General when he did not appear in the High Court in connection with the Nelliampathy issue.
The govt pleader also had ignored a detailed report charging the estate owners with violation of the lease agreement submitted by the forest department while preparing the affidavit.
Following the lapse, the estate owners got a favourable position in the High Court, he alleged.
The vigilance court will also consider on August 24 another petition by Joseph regarding the encroachments in the Karappara estate and Alexandria estate.
The Supreme Court on Monday had ruled that the Karappara estate in Nelliampathy was a forest land when quashing the High Court verdict giving title deeds to owners of 541 acres of land in Karappara estate.
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