Kochi: In a major setback to the Oommen Chandy government, the Kerala High Court on Thursday rejected a revision petition filed by the state government and chief secretary-designate Jiji Thomson to wind up the palmolein case, allegedly involving a loss of Rs 2.32 crore in imports during the K. Karunakaran government in 1992.

Justice P. Ubaid observed that withdrawing the case would benefit wrongdoers and that the deaths of a few accused and witnesses would not automatically close a corruption case. According to sources, the state would file an appeal against the single bench order before the SC. The Opposition, however, has opined that it was a bid to subvert the probe. The palmolein case is a case where the public has also some concern in view of the allegations of corruption, the court observed.