Buckling under pressure, the LDF Government on Monday ordered a Vigilance inquiry into the sale of forest land by Merchiston estate at Ponmudi near here to the ISRO for setting up the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology.
Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan announced the decision following the green signal given by the CPI which had been opposing an inquiry  demanded by the Opposition UDF. At the centre of the controversy is the forest department headed by CPI’s minister Benoy Viswam who was accused of taking a favourable position to facilitate the sale. The CPI says the allegation is politically motivated and part of the UDF ploy to cover up its lapses.
The ISRO had purchased 82 acres of land from one Xavi Mano Mathew which was part of the 707.23 acre Merchiston Tea Estate originally run by the English and later by the Birla Group. Questions were raised over the legality of the land deal that the ISRO had entered into since it was notified  as Ecologically Fragile Land. Mr Mathew was accused of effecting the sale with the help of the forest officials. Mr Achuthanandan said the alleged bending of rules during the UDF's term in 2005 to facilitate the  sale to Mr Mathew would also be probed.