Kochi: Former Kerala Public Works Department (PWD) Minister V K Ebrahim Kunju is staring at a Vigilance probe over the alleged irregularities in the construction of the Palarivattom flyover in the heart of Kochi city. The Kerala High Court made it clear that investigation against the ex-minister should follow now even as three accused in the case were granted bail by it on Monday.

Earlier the anti-graft watchdog had told the High Court that his role in the faulty has to be further probed as he had issued the government order to give advance funds for the flyover construction.

The Vigilance insisted that Ebrahim Kunju cannot shy away from the responsibility and that a probe has to be held on to the alleged conspiracy.

With the prosecution permission sought against the ex-minister, the court too observed that the probe would now be in that direction. The statements of the fourth accused - former PWD principal secretary T O Sooraj - has been recorded with regard to this.

Yesterday, the three accused in the case over financial irregularities were granted bail by the High Court.

Apart from Sooraj, Sumit Goel, MD of RDS Projects Ltd which constructed the flyover, and M T Thankachan, former additional general manager of Roads and Bridges Development Corporation of Kerala Limited (RBDCK) were the ones given bail with strict conditions.

Meanwhile, the court did not concur with the prosecution’s argument that the bridge designer, who has been named as accused, would be influenced by the other accused.

The court pointed out that the designer's statements have been taken and that questioning on the drawings of the bridge have to be carried out.

The prosecution alleged that the first-accused Sumit Goel, RDS Projects MD, was the main conspirator. The computer and laptop that have data on the financial dealings have been seized and sent to forensic labs.

The construction of the Palarivattom flyover was completed in 2016. After cracks were spotted on the bridge and various agencies pointed out the inadequacies in the construction, the bridge was shut for traffic from May 1, 2019.