BSNL fraud: DCC president in dock

Alappuzha: The CPM district committee has demanded a detailed probe into the multi-crore recharge coupon sale fraud, alleging that DCC president A.A. Shukur had a direct role in the fraud as the controversial private shop named Parkline Enterprises was owned by a relative of the DCC president. The demand comes in the wake of the anti-corruption wing of the CBI, Kochi unit, carrying out a raid on the Alappuzha office on Thursday.

Seeking a comprehensive probe, CPM district secretary, C.B.Chandrababu alleged that the franchisee of BSNL with the controversial shop was first signed by Shukoor. Later, he changed the ownership in his brother-in-law’s name as he had decided to contest the Assembly elections in 2009.

“The change of ownership is not an excuse. It’s just technical. He was carrying out the fraud with the support of officials who were loyal to the Congress”, he said. Shukoor denied the charges saying he was only a partner in the business.

The CBI team which detected anomalies in transactions worth Rs 5.4 cr and seized 270 forged documents during the raid, had booked Thomas Mathew, accounts officer and Sajan Varkey, junior accounts officer, of the BSNL Alappuzha, under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Criminal Conspiracy.