Cashew scam: HC permits Industries Secretary to file plea to dispense with his personal appearance

A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court connected Thursday directed the Industries Department Principal Secretary (Cashew) A. P. M Mohammed Hanish to record an exertion seeking to dispense with his idiosyncratic quality earlier the Single Bench connected Friday, successful the ₹600 crore cashew import scam.

On Wednesday, helium had filed an entreaty challenging a Single Bench bid that directed his idiosyncratic quality successful a contempt of tribunal lawsuit related to the scam connected Friday.

The contempt petition had been filed by Kadakkampally Manoj of Kollam. In his plea, Mr. Manoj cited however an earlier HC bid had to beryllium complied with, earlier October 15. But the Principal Secretary issued a authorities bid connected October 28, denying authorisation for a CBI probe into the scam, helium alleged.

In April, the HC had quashed a State authorities bid that had denied authorisation for a CBI probe into the ₹600-crore cashew import scam. The tribunal further summoned Mr Hanish to look earlier it, successful the contempt plea that had been initiated pursuing the denial of authorisation for the CBI probe into the alleged corruption successful the import of earthy cashew betwixt 2006 and 2015 by Kerala Cashew Board.

The High Court had successful October 2025 expressed its dissatisfaction astatine the State authorities for denying authorisation for a CBI probe against R. Chandrasekharan, erstwhile president of the Kerala State Cashew Development Corporation (KSCDC), and P.A. Ratheesh, erstwhile managing manager of the corporation, successful the corruption case.

The State authorities had denied support thrice for a CBI probe successful the case, and besides contended that it was not contempt of court. The authorities had reportedly opted for a vigilance enquiry connected satisfying that the ‘offences’ prima facie, warranted investigation. Later on, a Division Bench of the HC entrusted the probe to the CBI, taking into information the seriousness of the allegation and finding, prima facie, materials indispensable for probe by an autarkic agency.