The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) recently told the Kerala High Court it would not oppose a CBI probe into the cases against former SIDCO managing director Saji Basheer, including the controversial supply of Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) to Uttar Pradesh Co-Operative Federation in Lucknow, reports New Indian Express.
In a counter affidavit, the VACB submitted that Saji Basheer might have siphoned his ill-gotten wealth to safe havens abroad, which no agency other than the CBI can inquire into without extraneous interventions. The CBI should look into all official transactions of Saji Basheer while at the helm of SIDCO and Kerala State Industrial Enterprises, the VACB said.
The VACB had filed the affidavit in response to a petition seeking a directive to the CBI to take over the cases against Saji Basheer and others. According to VACB, Saji Basheer had acquired excess assets worth Rs 23,48,761 during his tenure as the MD of SIDCO and KSIE.