Kerala HC stays CBI probe in Life Mission project

Kerala HC has stayed the CBI investigation into the Life Mission Project for 2 months. The HC granted the stay after a plea was filed by the Kerala govt to oppose the CBI probe. FIR was registered by the central agency alleging FCRA violations over receiving foreign donations for the house construction project for flood victims.

Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Tuesday stayed for two months the CBI probe into alleged irregularities in the 'Life Mission', a state housing project envisaging total housing for the homeless.

Justice V G Arun granted the stay considering a plea filed by the Kerala government, seeking to quash an FIR filed by the CBI, naming Life Mission for alleged violation of FCRA.

The CBI had filed an FIR in a Kochi court under Section 120 B of the IPC and Section 35 of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 on a complaint by Wadakancherry Congress MLA Anil Akkara, listing Santosh Eappen, Managing Director of Unitac Builder, Kochi, as the first accused and Sane Ventures as the second accused.

The Life Mission CEO in his petition submitted that the FIR was "illegal, arbitrary and nothing but an abuse of the process of law and is, therefore, liable to be quashed."

PTI