In a significant development, the High Court of Kerala has issued an interim order regarding the intervention in the ongoing AI camera controversy. The court has directed the government to withhold payment to the contractors involved in the AI camera project until further order. The case is scheduled to be heard again in three weeks’ time.
The interim order comes in response to a petition filed by Congress leaders VD Satheesan and Ramesh Chennithala at the Kerala High Court. The petitioners expressed their lack of confidence in the state investigation agencies, citing alleged involvement of high-ranking officials in the purported scam. The petition raises concerns about discrepancies in the tender process and questions the legitimacy of the companies contracted for the project.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice S.V. Bhatti and Justice Basant Balaji heard the petition. The High Court has instructed the government to submit a counter affidavit within a span of two weeks.
The petitioners have demanded a thorough examination of the case, cancellation of contracts between the Department of Motor Vehicles and Keltron, declaration of the tenders quoted by SRIT Private Limited as ineligible, and a stay order on the functioning of the AI cameras.
Furthermore, the petition highlights that the finance department has rejected the Detailed Project Report (DPR) prepared by Keltron for the AI camera project. The project was intended to be implemented under the BOOT (Build, Own, Operate, Transfer) model, with a budget of Rs 236 crore. However, it was given to a Bangalore-based private agency named SRIT Private Limited. The petition alleges that political influence and the direct affiliation of the private agency with the CPM party played a role in this decision.
Discussion about this post