New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram, September 8, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Petitioner Jomon Puthenpurackal on Tuesday approached the Supreme Court seeking removal of the interim stay on the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into alleged disproportionate assets of retired former Kerala Chief Secretary K.M. Abraham.
In a counter-affidavit filed before the Supreme Court, Jomon contended that there was no legal basis to halt the investigation and urged the court to allow the CBI probe to proceed.
The CBI has also opposed Abraham’s plea seeking to stop the investigation. In its affidavit, CBI Deputy Inspector General Renuka Devi, who is also the Investigating Officer of the agency’s Kochi Anti-Corruption Unit, said Abraham’s petition was not maintainable and should be dismissed.
The case concerns allegations that Abraham possessed assets disproportionate to his known sources of income during the period from January 1, 2003, to December 31, 2015.
The Kerala High Court had on April 11, 2025, ordered registration of an FIR and a CBI investigation into the allegations. The CBI subsequently registered the case on April 25, 2025. Abraham then approached the Supreme Court, which granted an interim stay on the investigation.
A key issue before the Supreme Court is whether prior government sanction was required before investigating Abraham. Jomon has argued that no such sanction was necessary, relying on the 1984 Constitution Bench judgment in the R.S. Nayak-A.R. Antulay case.
He has further contended that Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, introduced through a 2018 amendment, cannot be applied retrospectively to alleged offences committed much earlier.
Jomon has also alleged that an earlier Vigilance inquiry into Abraham’s assets was curtailed, claiming that its period was reduced from 2000-2015 to 2000-2009. He said the Kerala High Court had taken note of the issue.
The petitioner has also raised allegations concerning non-disclosure of property details in mandatory statements submitted by government officials. He referred to properties allegedly held in Kollam, Mumbai and Thiruvananthapuram, including a shopping complex, a flat in Mumbai and an apartment in the Kerala capital.
Jomon rejected Abraham’s contention that the High Court proceedings amounted to forum shopping.
He also pointed out that Abraham had resigned as CEO of the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board and as Chief Principal Secretary to former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan following the change of government in Kerala.
Arguing that continuation of the CBI investigation was in the larger public interest, Jomon said maintaining the stay at the initial stage of the probe could impede efforts to establish the truth.
Following his retirement, Abraham held key positions in the Pinarayi Vijayan administration and was regarded as a trusted aide of the former Chief Minister.
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