Vigilance case registered over alleged irregularities in KINFRA land acquisition in Kannur

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.The case was registered by the Kannur unit of the VACB on Saturday (September 26, 2026) against officials who served at the special tahsildar’s office at Mattanur, which handled land acquisition in Pattannur, Kezhallur and Kolari villages.According to the VACB, large amounts of compensation were allegedly sanctioned for land held by private individuals without valid legal documents, with the money subsequently deposited in court. It is also alleged that officials accepted land tax from private individuals for land already acquired by the government and issued possession certificates to them. The alleged actions are suspected to have enabled ineligible private individuals to claim rights over the land and caused substantial financial loss to the government.The accused are 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 follows a complaint filed with the Kannur Vigilance unit in November 2025 by Manoj Moorkoth of Chalad, Kannur. A subsequent surprise inspection and a preliminary inquiry following a Kerala High Court order reportedly found substance in the allegations.Acting on the directions of VACB Director Manoj Abraham, Kannur Vigilance Deputy Superintendent of Police Babu Peringeth registered the case.Inspector Bavish B.S. of the Kannur Vigilance unit is the investigating officer. P. Balakrishnan Nair, Superintendent of Police, Vigilance (North Range), Kozhikode, will supervise the investigation.The Vigilance said action against corruption and irregularities in government offices would be intensified as part of the State government’s 'Operation Zero project’. The public have been urged to report corruption-related information through the Vigilance toll-free number 1064. Published - September 26, 2026 09:14 pm IST