Thiruvananthapuram: Senior bureaucrat T O Sooraj, the state PWD secretary, has been placed under suspension from the post in view of the disproportionate assets case against him.
His suspension came after vigilance officials raided five places early this week and questioned Sooraj for several hours Friday in Kochi.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told reporters that the law would take its course in the case.
The stern action by Chandy appears to be the first such instances in the recent times when a senior IAS official has been suspended.
Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala Friday confirmed that there was strong evidence against the bureaucrat and it was not a vindictive action.
The Left opposition has already demanded that the government should suspend him from service.
Incidentally, he managed to stay afloat without any problems under the previous Left government despite the vigilance department seeking a probe against him.
Sooraj, who started his career as an officer at the State Forest Department was made IAS in 1999. An FIR has been registered against him at the Thrissur Vigilance Court.