CBI quizzes TO Sooraj in land fraud case

Kochi: The CBI interrogated T.O. Sooraj, former public works secretary, in the Kalamassery land fraud case in which Salim Raj, former gunman of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, is one of the accused.

The Thiruvananthapuram unit of the CBI led by SP Jose Mohan mainly questioned his activities relating to land deals during his tenure as the Land Revenue Commissioner.

“He was summoned to the Kochi office and quizzed on the last two days, on aspects of the case,” said an officer.

The team took Sooraj’s statement based on a complaint lodged by one N.A.Sheriffa that Sooraj had aided a relative of Salim Raj to illegally acquire her 116 cents of land worth Rs 25 cr, located in Kalamassery.

Sooraj, while serving as the Land Revenue Commissioner had allegedly directed the village officer to cancel the ‘Title Regularisation’ even as the case was placed for the consideration of the Civil Court.