Crime branch to quiz Kalamassery municipal chairperson

Kochi: The Crime Branch will record statement of Jessy Peter and councilor Deena Raphael on Tuesday after the former lodged an illegal money lending complaint against the Kalamassery Municipal chairperson. Jessy Peter, however, denied the charges and termed the act as “politically motivated” at the instance of a rebel faction. “We’ll record statement of both the parties based on the complaint which alleges that the chairperson had charged exorbitant interest for loan extended and threatened the later to repay the loan along with interest,” sources in the district Crime Branch said.

“It’s true that I had extended loan to her some years back after coming to know about her financial crisis. However that was without any interest and after me taking loan from Kudumbashree. She had earlier too came up with similar charges. There is a clear political motivation behind the act now,” Jessy Peter said. According to the complaint, the chairperson had threatened her and asked to repay nearly Rs five lakh towards loan and interest.

“I learned about the latest move against me when I got intimation from the Commissioner’s office that my statement will be recorded on Tuesday. I had met DGP and handed over another complaint of attempt to tarnish image,” she said. Despite repeated attempts, councilor Deena Raphael could not be contacted for comments.