THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even as the LDF’s Assembly poll campaign vows to ensure the return of a corruption-free government, it has emerged that one of the candidates fielded by the CPM-led alliance is an accused in the sensational recruitment scam case at the University of Kerala(KU).
A A Rasheed, who is seeking the mandate from Aruvikkara constituency is the third accused in the University Assistant recruitment fraud case, the trial of which is progressing at the Enquiry Commissioner and Special court here.
Not only that, CPM leader B S Rajiv, also accused of involvement in the scam, has been appointed secretary of the election committee of T N Seema, the CPM candidate in neighbouring Vattiyoorkavu constituency.
Sujith S Kurup, Thriveni , Alanthara, Venjaranmmoodu, who had in his capacity as KU Senate member in 2011 petitioned the Chief Minister against the scam, told Express that Rasheed and Rajiv were the kingpins of the recruitment scam. Kurup currently serving as
Nellanad Grama Panchayat president said, “By fielding such candidates the CPM has exposed its true colours.”
According to Sujith S Kurup, “There had been clear evidence of manipulation of the original results of the written test. In violation of the original conditions in the notification for the recruitment, the accused scaled down the marks of the written test and scaled up the marks of the interview to get their favourites recruited”.
Further, he pointed out that since
“The Lokayukta directed the authorities concerned to declare null and void the recruitment of the 180-plus candidates, they had moved the High Court and got a stay on the order. However, the probation of these employees has not been cleared yet”.
Meanwhile, despite repeated attempts the CPM leadership and A A Rasheed could not be reached for their comment on the issue.
The prosecution case was that the answer sheets (OMR sheets) of the shortlisted candidates for the Asst. grade II exam conducted in 2005 were found to be missing and subsequently the list had been tampered with the connivance of the then KU Vice Chancellor and Pro vice chancellor to appoint over 180 ineligible candidates.
Meanwhile, the high-profile case prompted the High Court to appoint a high-power committee to monitor the recruitment of the varsity staff, which eventually prompted the state government to refer the university recruitments to the PSC.
Of the seven persons arraigned by the Crime Branch in the case, A A Rasheed and B S Rajiv were respectively the third and fourth accused, while the then Vice Chancellor M K Ramachandran Nair and Pro vice chancellor V Jayaprakash were the first and second accused respectively.
As per the chargesheet filed before the Vigilance Court, a copy of which is with Express, A A Rasheed and B S Rajiv in their capacity as Syndicate members were prompted by political motives and they had conspired with the first two accused to get pecuniary benefits for themselves.
Based on Sujith S Kurup’s complaint, the government had on May 27, 2011, ordered a probe by the CBCID.