The Kerala High Court has said it may have to consider directing a change of the investigating officer in the Vigilance Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged ₹15.85-crore microfinance scam involving Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam General Secretary Vellapally Natesan.
Earlier, Justice A. Badharudeen had directed S. Sasidharan, Superintendent of Police, Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB), to complete the investigation by June 20, 2026, and submit a report on the probe.
On Friday (June 19, 2026), the court observed that the officer had not been properly investigating the alleged offences and had repeatedly sought more time to complete the probe. It said the investigation would have to be entrusted to another officer unless it was completed within three weeks.
The case, first registered in 2016, relates to the alleged misappropriation of government loans disbursed through the SNDP Yogam between 2003 and 2014 under a microfinance scheme intended to benefit members of marginalised communities in Kerala. The petitioner, M.S. Anil of Cherthala, sought a thorough vigilance probe into the matter, following which it was assigned to the SIT led by Mr. Sasidharan in November 2024.
Published – June 20, 2026 01:21 am IST
