The Idukki Vigilance unit has launched a primary investigation against former Water Resources Minister and Kerala Congress(M) leader Roshy Augustine over an alleged bribe tied to the Kolapra tourism project in Idukki.Congress worker Baby Joseph recently submitted a complaint to the Vigilance department, alleging that Mr. Augustine awarded the contract for the ₹112-crore Kolapra tourism project to a private company. According to the petitioner, the project is being developed on the premises of the Malankara dam under a 30-year lease agreement with the private firm. The complaint further states that the agreement allocates a 96.5% revenue share to the private company, leaving the government with just a 3.5% share. The petitioner alleged that Mr Augustine’s intervention resulted in a massive loss of public funds.Meanwhile, Mr Augustine welcomed the probe, defending the tourism project’s framework. “The government will not lose a single paisa in this project, which is being implemented under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model,” Mr. Augustine said. “The selected private company will bear all construction costs, and the land is being handed over for a 30-year lease period. Normally, in District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) tourism projects, the DTPC receives a 30% share of the profits, which amounts to a very small sum. In this project, the government will receive 3.5% of the total revenue. If the company generates Rs 10 crore in revenue a year, the government gets Rs 35 lakh.” Said Mr Augustine.“The agreement was signed after following all legal procedures. The construction work will be completed within two years, and the project will be handed over to the government after the 30-year lease period expires. I will cooperate fully with any investigation and will not allow my public trust to be destroyed.” said Mr Augustine. Published - May 24, 2026 08:34 pm IST