Thread by @barandbench

The Kerala High Court today heard UV Jose, CEO Kerala LIFE Mission's plea against the investigation launched against the Mission by the CBI. #KeralaLifeMission

The CBI alleges that the Kerala Govt obtained funds from the Red Crescent and siphoned the same to Unitech Builders, a construction company making the transaction a violation of the FCRA.

@CMOKerala #KeralaLifeMission #FCRA #Kerala

The State, however, states that it is merely providing land for the construction as part of its LIFE Mission, an initiative to build homes for the poor, especially homes of people that were ravaged by 2018

@CMOKerala #KeralaLifeMission #FCRA #Kerala

There were high voltage exchanges at Court today, with Senior Advocate Vishwanathan KV representing LIFE Mission's CEO and Sasthamangalam Ajithkumar arguing for the CBI.

@CMOKerala #KeralaLifeMission #FCRA #Kerala

There were high voltage exchanges at Court today, with Senior Advocate Vishwanathan KV representing LIFE Mission's CEO and Sasthamangalam Ajithkumar arguing for the CBI.

@CMOKerala #KeralaLifeMission #FCRA #Kerala

Senior Adv KV Vishwanathan was vehement in his assertion that any notice to the CEO summoning him as part of investigation would result in "paralysis setting in" on the part of the State's officers. This would sap morale, he additionally stated.

#KeralaLifeMission #FCRA #Kerala

Sasthamangalam: The investigation is at an embryonic stage, we need to probe it further. Interestingly, the CBI was not sure if whether there was an independent contract between Unitech and the Red Crescent (if there was, then the FCRA does not come in the picture)

#FCRA

Unitech's Counsel interrupted, claiming that there WAS an independent agreement between Red Crescent and his client.

At this, KV Vishwanathan told the Court: the CBI does not even know whether or not there were separate agreements

#FCRA #unitech

Senior Adv Vishwanathan emphasized that the complaint on that formed the basis of the CBI's stepping in was politically motivated.

"Don't subject me (Jose) to a political rival", he said in Court today, in respect of Jose being summoned to appear before the CBI.

#FCRA

The Judge found that there important questions to be decided. The remainder of the submissions will be heard next week, along with Unitech's connected petition that will be taken on board.

HC: No stay on investigation for time being. #FCRA #CBI