Vigilance books four in KINFRA Mattanur land acquisition case
The Kannur unit of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau has registered a case against four officials over alleged irregularities in land acquisition for the KINFRA Industrial Park at Mattanur.
The Kannur unit of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) has registered a case over alleged irregularities in the acquisition of land for the KINFRA Industrial Park at Mattanur in Kannur district. The case was registered on Saturday against officials who had served at the special tahsildar's office at Mattanur, which handled land acquisition in Pattannur, Kezhallur and Kolari villages.
According to the Vigilance, substantial compensation was allegedly sanctioned for land held by private individuals who lacked valid legal documents, with the money later deposited in court. It is further alleged that officials collected land tax from private individuals for parcels already acquired by the government and issued them possession certificates. These actions are suspected to have allowed ineligible persons to stake claims over the land and to have caused considerable financial loss to the government.
The accused have been identified as Sherly V.E., then special tahsildar; Shaji K., special Revenue inspector; Pradeep Kumar P., valuation assistant; and Zakhir P.P., Pattannur village officer.
The case stems from a complaint filed with the Kannur Vigilance unit in November 2025 by Manoj Moorkoth of Chalad, Kannur. A surprise inspection and a preliminary inquiry carried out after a Kerala High Court order are reported to have found substance in the allegations.
The case was registered by Kannur Vigilance Deputy Superintendent of Police Babu Peringeth on the directions of VACB Director Manoj Abraham. Inspector Bavish B.S. of the Kannur Vigilance unit is the investigating officer, and P. Balakrishnan Nair, Superintendent of Police, Vigilance (North Range), Kozhikode, will supervise the investigation.
The Vigilance stated that action against corruption and irregularities in government offices would be stepped up under the State government's 'Operation Zero project'. Members of the public have been urged to pass on information about corruption through the Vigilance toll-free number 1064.