Cashew import scam: Kerala HC dismisses Industries Minister's appeal

The contempt petition was filed after Mr. Hanish refused sanction for a CBI probe into alleged embezzlement in the import of raw cashews by the Kerala State Cashew Development Corporation between 2006 and 2015.

A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court dismissed Industries Secretary APM Mohammad Hanish’s appeal against the Single Bench order for his personal appearance in the contempt case.

The Single Bench ordered his personal appearance in a contempt of court petition filed by Kadakampally Manoj of Kollam, a public interest litigant.

When the court heard the case on Monday (June 15, 2026), Mr. Hanish said that since he had been transferred to another department, he would not be able to rule on the orders of the Single Bench. However, the Division Bench held that he could seek time or seek the addition of a new Secretary as a party to a petition pending before a Single Bench.

A bench of Justice K. Natarajan and Justice Johnson John observed that there was no need to interfere with the contempt plea before the Single Court and directed Mr. Hanish to appear in person on June 19. During the hearing, the court questioned why Mr Hanish had refused the sanction, despite the single judge’s observation that there was a prima facie case to grant the plea.

The state has thrice denied sanction to the CBI inquiry to probe the role of INTUC leader R. Chandrasekharan and PA Ratheesh, former chairman and managing director of the corporation, in this alleged corruption case. Mr. Manoj appealed to the High Court against the third rejection.

A Single Bench recently directed Mr. Hanish to reconsider the denial of sanction for the CBI probe, in line with the Supreme Court’s observations in 2025.

Published – 15 Jun 2026 18:16 IST