Top official’s report for CBI probe brings rivals together
If a CBI probe is ordered, the Left leaders are likely to be in the dock
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Are the Left leaders afraid of a CBI probe into the alleged corruption in the Kerala State Cashew Development Corporation headed by INTUC state president R. Chandrasekharan? Most of the reported corrupt dealings had occurred during the LDF rule when Mr Elamaram Kareem was the industry minister.
Many eyebrows were, therefore, raised when the Left leaders offered support to Mr Chandrasekharan when he staged a ‘hunger strike’ for two days before the secretariat demanding the suspension of additional chief secretary (finance) K. M. Abraham.
Mr Abraham had filed a report in the High Court seeking a CBI probe into the KSCDC deals during the last decade and action against Mr Chandrasekharan. If a CBI probe is ordered, the Left leaders are likely to be in the dock.
When Mr Chandrasekharan began his fast on Tuesday, CPM leader Aanathalavattom Anandan first visited him. The next day came former CPM secretary Pinarayi Vijayan. Mr Kadakampally Manoj, former Kollam secretary of INTUC, who had exposed Mr Chandrasekharan’s alleged graft, told DC that the Left leaders were trying to scuttle the CBI investigation recommended by Mr. Abraham.
“Chandrasekharan’s brother-in-law K. A. Ratheesh has been holding the post of the managing director of KSCDC for over 10 years. The maximum corruption happened during the LDF government’s time. So if the CBI investigates the case, it is the LDF leaders, especially Mr. Kareem, who will be in the soup,” said Mr. Manoj.
But Mr. Anandan said that the CPM decided to support the INTUC leader as 10, 000 cashew workers have been left with no work and festival bonus. “We decided to unite for a common cause. If Mr. Chandrasekharan had indulged in corruption, then it has to be probed and if found wrong, he has to be punished,” said Mr. Anandan.
Mr. Kareem along with Mr Chandrasekharan had reportedly removed the Crime Branch DySP P. T. Balan who was investigating the Chakkittapara mining case allegedly by influencing the Home Minister's office.
DySP Balan, who had only recently joined the Crime Branch’s economic offences wing and was entrusted with the investigation into the Chakkittapara mining, was removed when the probe against Mr. Kareem was at the fag end. Police sources said that Mr. Balan has since been transferred to the Malappuram narcotics cell.