Lokayukta notice on VS, Arunkumar

KOZHIKODE: The Lokayukta, on Wednesday, served notice on former Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan and his son Arunkumar based on a complaint regarding loss of Rs 1.6 lakh to the state exchequer in sending officials of the Transport Department for training in the Model Finishing School, of which Arunkumar was the managing director. K G Premshankar, the then Transport Commissioner, has also been served with a notice in this regard.The order was issued by a Division Bench comprising Justice M M Pareed Pillai and Justice K K Dineshan on the complaint filed by Socialist Yuva Janata state general secretary Salim Madavoor. According to the complainant, about 80 motor vehicle inspectors and assistant motor vehicle inspectors were given training in the Model Finishing School spending Rs 2,500 per person, though high quality training with food and allowances were offered by the IMG, a Central Government undertaking, free of cost. The incident occurred while Achuthanandan was holding the charge of the Transport Department.By doing so, Achuthanandan had done an undue favour to his son’s organisation, Salim Madavoor pointed out in the complaint.It was alleged that K G Premshankar, the then Transport Commissioner who had a personal relationship with Achuthanandan, was also involved in organising the training programme.