K.A. Ratheesh seeks Kerala HC nod to withdraw resignation and rejoin service

K.A. Ratheesh, a former managing director of the Kerala State Cashew Development Corporation (KSCDC) and an accused in the cashew import scam, has petitioned the Kerala High Court to revoke his resignation and return to his role as Secretary of the Kerala Khadi and Village Industries Board. Ratheesh resigned following the government's approval for the Central Bureau of Investigation to prosecute him for alleged misappropriation of raw cashew imported by the corporation between 2006 and 2015.

He contended that the government's decision was made following interim orders passed by a single Judge. Ratheesh and R. Chandrasekharan, the INTUC president and former KSCDC chairperson, initially appealed against these interim orders in a Division Bench, which subsequently stayed their operation. As the stay was lifted with the appeal pending, the government's sanction order to prosecute Ratheesh and Chandrasekharan became invalid, according to Ratheesh.

He argued that the single Judge lacked authority to override the state's decision on granting or denying sanction for prosecution, citing earlier court observations.