Deputy collector T Somanathan suspended for bribe

KALPETTA: District collector S. Suhas suspended deputy collector T. Somanathan (land acquisition) on Monday in connection with a corruption case. He had allegedly taken bribes from a racket to convert government land into private land by manipulating documents. The collector also appointed Mananthavadi sub-collector N.S.K. Umesh to inquire into the allegations and examine the veracity of the visuals aired by a Malayalam news channel on Monday regarding the land scam.

Meanwhile, the state government asked the  land revenue commissioner to conduct an inquiry into the allegations.  The collector also ordered to seize the files from the taluk land board office at Mananthavadi and the office of the deputy collector (land acquisition) at the collectorate, both under Somanathan. Both the offices were  sealed.  The visuals showed  Somanathan receiving cash from the party. CPI Wayanad district secretary Vijayan Cherukara,  who allegedly facilitated the meeting between Somanathan and the land dealers for converting 4.5 acres of government land into private land,  also is under a cloud.

The controversial land falls in the Kottathara village under the jurisdiction of the Vythiri land board. Though Somanathan is the chairman of the Mananthavadi land board,   action was initiated against him as he was  seen accepting bribe in the visual aired by the news channel, the collector said in a press release. All the related documents will be handed over to the inquiry official appointed by the government, he added.

“As per my preliminary inquiry, so far no land transactions were conducted,” he added.   Mr Vijayan Cherukara,  in a press release, termed  the allegations against him and  district committee member E.J. Babu as baseless and aimed at tarnishing their image. Legal steps would be initiated against the culprits,” he added.