Dredger corruption case against Jacob Thomas: SC asks Kerala to submit list of officials to visit Netherlands for investigation

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has directed the Kerala government to submit, within two weeks, the list of officials who need to travel to the Netherlands for the investigation into the dredger corruption case against former DGP Jacob Thomas.

Kerala had sought the central government’s assistance to record statements from officials of the Dutch company IHC Beaver, which is a co-accused in the case. The Union Home Ministry had informed the Indian Embassy in the Netherlands of Kerala’s request. Acting on this, the Indian Embassy in The Hague contacted the Dutch government seeking details related to the case.

Meanwhile, the CBI asked Kerala Police to provide the names of two officers who must travel to the Netherlands as part of the probe. The Union Home Ministry also sought an explanation from Kerala Police on the necessity of the visit, Additional Solicitor General S V Raju informed the Supreme Court. Following this, the court directed the Kerala government to submit the details within two weeks.

The Kerala government assured the court that there would be no delay in the investigation process. Senior advocate Jayanth Muthuraj and standing counsel Harshad V Hameed appeared for Kerala. Advocate Kaleeswaram Raj represented the complainant Sathyan Naravoor, while A Karthik appeared for Jacob Thomas.