Thiruvananthapuram | Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Monday said K A Ratheesh, who is facing a CBI probe in a corruption case, has resigned from key posts of the cashew development body, KSDC, after the state government asked for it.

The Chief Minister's statement comes days after the Kerala High Court, while considering matters related to the CBI probe into the alleged corruption in the Kerala State Cashew Development Corporation (KSCDC), questioned how Ratheesh continued to hold key government positions despite the pending investigation.

Ratheesh was serving as Secretary of the Kerala Khadi and Village Industries Board, Managing Director of RUTRONIX (Kerala State Rural Women's Electronics Industrial Cooperative Federation Ltd.) and Chief Executive Officer of the Kerala Khadi Workers' Welfare Fund Board.

He was the former MD of KSDC.

Speaking at a press conference, Satheesan said the government had earlier requested all persons holding such key posts and facing similar issues to resign.

"Even before this, we had requested everyone holding such key positions to resign. A circular had gone out asking them to step down. They did not resign then. Now the resignation has been submitted," he said.

The Chief Minister said the government had chosen to seek resignations instead of immediately removing such officials.

"We could have removed them. But we showed basic courtesy. The issue regarding prosecution sanction for the CBI case is presently pending before the High Court. We had already granted sanction and informed the court that it could take an appropriate decision. Even before that, immediately after the court's observations, we sought his resignation, and he submitted it," Satheesan said.

Responding to questions on the Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme, the chief minister denied allegations that the government was confused over its stand and said a cabinet sub-committee had been constituted to examine the issue.

Satheesan rejected allegations that the state could simply withdraw from the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) relating to the scheme.

"It is not possible to withdraw because it is an MoU. The reports suggesting otherwise are based on a wrong interpretation," he said.

The Chief Minister also targeted the previous LDF government over the issue.

"If there had been a provision to withdraw, why didn't the previous Pinarayi Vijayan government do so? They had seven or eight months. They even constituted a Cabinet Sub-Committee but never convened a meeting. Nobody asked them why they failed to withdraw if it was really possible. Let the Leader of the Opposition answer that," he said.

He said the present government had been in office for only about a month and had already referred the matter to the Cabinet Sub-Committee.

"We discussed the issue and entrusted it to the Cabinet Sub-Committee. I have already said twice that a decision will be taken based on the committee's recommendations. They delayed it for seven or eight months, whereas it has been only a month for us," he said.

The Chief Minister said procedural aspects relating to transferring the probe in the death of Additional District Magistrate (ADM Navin Babu are being examined and that certain legal clearances from the court would also be required before further action.

Regarding the controversy over granting six-month leave approval for jailed Thiruvananthapuram Corporation BJP councillor R Sugathan to attend council meetings, Satheesan said the government is examining why officials had acted in a particular manner in connection with the issue.

"The reasons why the officials acted that way are being looked into," he said