Archive · 6 Jan 2026
Kerala Vigilance Recommends CBI Probe Against Satheesan
The Kerala Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) has recommended a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe against V D Satheesan, a senior Congress leader, for allegedly collecting money from abroad for a flood rehabilitation project called Punarjani.
The project aimed to help victims of the 2018 Kerala floods.
The Opposition Congress calls the recommendation politically motivated, coming just before the Assembly elections.
Satheesan denies collecting funds, stating he only facilitated donations to the Manappat Foundation.
The CPI(M) government says it will take legal action over the allegations.
The VACB found no evidence linking the money to Satheesan but noted he did not get central approval for fund mobilization.
The Kerala Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) recommended a CBI probe against V D Satheesan for alleged FCRA violations.
The allegations are related to the Punarjani project, which aimed to rehabilitate victims of the 2018 Kerala floods.
The Opposition Congress terms the VACB’s recommendation politically motivated, ahead of the Assembly elections.
Satheesan denies collecting funds, stating he facilitated donations to the Manappat Foundation.
The CPI(M) government plans to take legal action over the allegations.
- Who
- V D Satheesan, senior Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly
- What
- Recommendation for a CBI probe into allegations of FCRA violation related to the Punarjani project
- When
- The VACB probe was ordered in 2023, and the report was made public in early 2025
- Where
- Kerala, India
- Why
- Allegations of violating the FCRA by collecting money from abroad for the Punarjani project
- Individual Involved
- V D Satheesan, senior Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Kerala Assembly
- Project
- Punarjani project
- Allegation
- Violation of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA)
- Facilitator
- Manappat Foundation, the corporate social responsibility wing of the Dubai-based Manappat Group
- Complainant
- Jaison Panikulangara, member of Nitta Gelatin Action Council
- VACB Recommendation
- CBI probe into the allegation of FCRA violation
- Satheesan's Position
- Denies collecting funds, states he facilitated donations to the Manappat Foundation
- CPI(M)'s Stance
- Government will take legal action over the allegations