Vigilance Judge: Chief Minister Can’t Intervene in Anti-Corruption Probes

### Quick Summary
– The Left Democratic Front (LDF) government faced a setback after a special court in Thiruvananthapuram ruled that the Chief Minister has no legal authority to interfere in anti-corruption inquiries.
– Inquiry Commissioner and Vigilance Judge, A Manoj, criticized the VACB’s justification of its inquiry report clearing former Additional Director general of Police M.R. ajith Kumar from corruption charges.
– The court held that anti-corruption investigations must adhere to statutory principles and are not influenced by approvals from political executives or constitutional authorities.
– Lawyer P. nagaraj alleged that high-ranking officials and politicians conspired to derail the examination into corruption charges against Mr. Ajith Kumar.
– Pinarayi Vijayan’s political secretary, P. Sasi, was named as a respondent in the case by Mr. Nagaraj; however, the court dismissed VACB’s “clean chit” for Mr. Ajith Kumar as invalid.
– While unable to order registration of a case directly under Prevention of Corruption Act (1988/2018 amendment), section 223 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita empowers courts to hear complainants under oath before cognizance of anti-corruption charges.

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### indian Opinion Analysis
This ruling reinforces institutional safeguards against potential misuse of executive authority in legal processes like anti-corruption inquiries. By asserting that governance does not permit interference with statutory investigations, it strengthens the separation between administrative oversight and judicial proceedings-essential for democratic accountability.

The decision indicates systemic vigilance toward maintaining fairness when handling sensitive cases involving high-ranking officials such as M.R. Ajith Kumar while resisting undue influence from political figures or senior bureaucrats associated with governing parties or coalitions like the LDF.

For Kerala’s broader polity, this serves as both a cautionary acknowledgment about pervasive allegations concerning public office integrity and an affirmation of adherence to legal boundaries-fostering trust among citizens toward judicial independence amidst challenges posed by vested interests.

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