CBI to probe Titanium case

Travancore Titanium Products Limited case will be investigated by CBI after a recommendation was made by the Kerala government. According to the Vigilance department that probed the case earlier, a corruption of Rs 66 crore was involved in the setting up of the Rs 256-cr pollution control mechanism.

Thiruvananthapuram:The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is all set to probe the high-profile Travancore Titanium Products Limited case in which the suspects include former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala and former Minister V K Ebrahim Kunju. A recommendation has been made in this regard by the Kerala government. Yet another accused is former Chairman of Titanium, T Balakrishnan.

It is alleged that corruption had taken place in the work for setting up a pollution control plant at Titanium factory. Reacting to the development, Chandy said that he was prepared to face an investigation by any agency.

According to the Vigilance department that probed the case earlier, a corruption of Rs 66 crore was involved in the setting up of the Rs 256-cr pollution control mechanism. The allegations were raised in 2006 and soon after the Vigilance launched a preliminary investigation.

The Vigilance Department had also sought the help of international agencies like Interpol during its probe. Various equipment for the pollution control plant was purchased from firms based in Britain and Finland like VA Tech Wabag, AVI Europe and Comedor Eco Plannings. Details were sought regarding the actual price of the machinery and the amount paid as a commission.