The Kerala High Court on Monday stayed a Vigilance Court order directing further investigation into the role of Chief Minister Ommen Chandy in the Palmolein import case of 1992.

Justice K T Shankaran of the Kerala High Court stayed the Thiruvananthapuram Vigilance court order on a petition moved by the fifth accused in the case, Jiji Thomson, who was the then Managing Director of the State Civil Supplies Corporation.

The case relates to the import of 32,000 tonnes of palmolein from Malaysia at a higher rate, causing over two crore rupees loss to the state exchequer. Mr. Ommen Chandy was the state Finance Minister when the imports took place.

The court posted the case to the 17th of next month.

It may be recalled that in a suo motto decision last Saturday, the Thiruvananthapuram Vigilance Court judge who had ordered investigation into the role of Ommen Chandy, had rescued himself from further hearing of the case, regretting personal attacks against him through the media.