THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: How does an organisation celebrate its 25th year when it has already completed 26 years of existence? This peculiar situation applies to the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), the state’s primary infrastructure funding body, which is now moving ahead with its Silver Jubilee celebrations despite crossing the 25-year mark last year.
KIIFB was founded on November 11, 1999, which means its Silver Jubilee should have been celebrated in November 2024. A plan for a grand celebration in early 2025 was initially mooted but was shelved following a major legal setback: the Kerala High Court had ordered a CBI probe against K.M. Abraham, the Chief Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister and KIIFB’s CEO, in a disproportionate assets case.
The CBI registered the case under the Prevention of Corruption Act based on a petition filed by human rights activist Jomon Puthenpurackal. The High Court, citing the petitioner’s statement, the Vigilance preliminary inquiry report, and other documents, had directed the CBI to register a case and investigate.
However, Abraham successfully appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing that an FIR could not be registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act without prior prosecution sanction. The Supreme Court subsequently stayed the High Court’s order, providing a temporary reprieve to the bureaucrat and KIIFB.
With the legal situation stabilised, K.M. Abraham has reportedly dusted off the file for the long-delayed Silver Jubilee celebrations. Kerala Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal is expected to announce the details of the KIIFB Silver Jubilee programmes shortly.
The move has drawn sharp criticism from political and economic observers, who argue that the state, already reeling from fiscal constraints, is now set to witness another high-profile instance of extravagance, with crores of rupees being spent on an anniversary celebration—one year later than due. The celebration of the ’25th year’ at the age of 26 is being cited as a prime example of the state government’s spending spree and fiscal imprudence.
