Cashew Case – Kerala Government Revises Prosecution Sanction Order
Cashew Case – The Kerala government is preparing to issue a revised prosecution sanction order in the alleged multi-crore cashew import case after concerns were raised over the wording of an earlier document issued by the Industries Department.
The original order related to CBI prosecution proceedings against former Kerala State Cashew Development Corporation Managing Director K.A. Ratheesh and INTUC president R. Chandrasekharan. The sanction was reportedly issued following directions from the Kerala High Court.
Concerns Raised Over Language in Earlier Order
The controversy centred on portions of the earlier order that were seen as indicating the government had acted only because of the High Court’s direction. Legal observers also questioned references that appeared to discuss the accused persons’ option to challenge the sanction.
Such language in a prosecution sanction order drew attention because the document was expected to be placed before the court in connection with the ongoing case. Legal experts said the wording could have led to further questions from the court about the government’s position.
The Chief Minister’s office had not publicly commented on the matter at the time of the developments.
Advocate General Seeks Time From Court
When the case was taken up, Advocate General K. Jaju Babu reportedly did not submit the earlier order before the High Court. Instead, the government sought additional time to clarify the document and prepare a corrected version.
Officials are now expected to place a fresh order before the court when the matter is heard again next week. The revised document is likely to focus on the prosecution sanction without including disputed observations from the earlier draft.
The move is being viewed as an effort to avoid legal uncertainty and ensure that the government’s stand is presented clearly before the court.
Questions Over Handling of Sensitive Document
Another issue that has attracted attention is the reported disclosure of the earlier order’s contents before it was formally placed before the court. The matter came into focus after details of the document were referred to during a press conference by one of the accused persons.
The development has prompted questions about how a sensitive government record, connected to a pending judicial matter, may have reached outside parties before its formal submission.
There have been calls for the government to examine whether official procedures for handling confidential files were followed. No official finding on the source of the document or any possible breach of confidentiality has been made public so far.
Focus on Secretariat Decision-Making
The episode has also renewed discussion about administrative processes within the Secretariat, particularly in matters involving high-profile investigations and court proceedings.
Observers say the revised order and any internal review of the earlier drafting process could help clarify whether the controversy resulted from an administrative error, inadequate legal scrutiny, or another procedural issue.
For now, the immediate focus remains on the government’s revised prosecution sanction order and its presentation before the Kerala High Court. Further developments in the cashew import case are expected when the matter is heard next week.