THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Chief Secretary A. Jayathilak is embroiled in a major controversy after a social activist filed a formal complaint with the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB), alleging that the top bureaucrat concealed facts about his assets and income in his Annual Property Returns (IPR).
The complaint, submitted directly at the Vigilance headquarters by Anil Bose, a social activist from Kanjirappally, points to evidence suggesting potential illicit enrichment and gross dereliction of duty by the Chief Secretary.
The key allegations outlined in the complaint are:
- Undisclosed Commercial Income: Jayathilak allegedly failed to disclose income from a property in Cheruvickal, Sreekaryam, which was reportedly leased out for commercial purposes. Mandatory rules require civil servants to inform the government of such transactions.
- Concealment of Rental Revenue: The Chief Secretary reportedly earns lakhs annually from the rental of two flats—one in Kakkanad and another in Kavadiyar. The complaint states that the IPR documents, submitted over consecutive years, incorrectly show ‘zero income’ from rent.
- Misrepresentation of Property Ownership: The complaint highlights that Jayathilak concealed the transfer of four properties: three properties in Kavadiyar and a 52-cent land parcel in Avanavancheri. While he had initially reported only one-third ownership of these properties to the government, it is alleged that all four were first transferred entirely to his name and subsequently moved to his children’s names, a detail he allegedly failed to report in his IPR.
The submission of incorrect information in the IPR constitutes a severe violation of service rules for an officer in the Civil Service, potentially warranting strong disciplinary action. The Vigilance department is now expected to initiate a preliminary inquiry into the matter to determine the veracity of the serious allegations levelled against one of the state’s highest-ranking administrative officers.
