Quick Verification ordered against Congress minister

In yet another embarrassment to the Congress-led UDF government in Kerala, a special court here today ordered a 'quick verification' probe against Cooperation Minister C N Balakrishnan and seven others over alleged corruption in an apex body of cooperatives in the state.
Enquiry Commissioner and Special Court (Vigilance) Judge S S Vasan directed the Vigilance department to file the probe report within 45 days while passing orders on a complaint filed by Georege Vattukulam, Chairman of Malayala Vedi. Former Consumerfed Managing Director Reji Nair and former President Joy Thomas are among other respondents against whom the probe has been ordered.

The complainant has alleged that the Minister had demanded Rs five crore as 'incentive' for purchasing foreign liquors from traders and irregularity in the modification of 141 vechicles as 'mobile stores'.
The UDF government is already under attack by CPI-M led LDF opposition over corruption allegations against Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Power Minister Arayadan Muhammed State Excise Minister K Babu and former Finance Minister K M Mani over the solar and bar bribery scams.
The special court here had earlier ordered similar probe against Chandy, Muhammed and Babu, but the orders were later stayed by the Kerala High Court.