THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Seeking to put both the UDF and LDF in the dock, the BJP cited a page it claimed was from a CMRL “pay-off diary”, purportedly listing the names of prominent leaders from both fronts, including Chief Minister V D Satheesan and Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan.
BJP state vice-president Shone George, who displayed the page at a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday, demanded a CBI probe into the allegations, contending that the state police cannot impartially investigate a case involving the chief minister and other ruling front leaders.
Shone alleged that the document, which he said was published by an online news channel, showed that both UDF and LDF leaders received payments from CMRL. However, he dodged a direct question on whether the document had selectively omitted the names of BJP leaders, saying, “Let that also be inquired.”
Shone claimed the page carried the names of several prominent UDF and LDF leaders, along with details of payments. He alleged that the entries suggested the purported pay-offs extended beyond CPM-linked figures already under scrutiny in the CMRL-Exalogic case. UDF leaders are also involved.
The BJP leader questioned the credibility of the Crime Branch special investigation team constituted by the state government, arguing that the state machinery could not independently probe allegations involving the CM and other ruling-front leaders. “The government-ordered preliminary inquiry could delay a full-fledged probe and potentially result in the dilution or destruction of evidence,” he said.
The demand comes after the state government ordered a preliminary inquiry by a Crime Branch SIT into findings shared by the Enforcement Directorate in the CMRL-Exalogic case.
BJP seeks responses from CM, min
The ED has sought registration of FIR under the Prevention of Corruption Act against ex-CM Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter Veena T and son-in-law and former minister P A Mohammed Riyas, based on material gathered during its investigation.
Meanwhile, BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar sought responses from Satheesan and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala on the allegations. He also launched a scathing attack on the government for not registering an FIR in the payoff case, alleging that the UDF government was merely continuing the corrupt practices of the previous LDF regime.
“The Congress, Muslim League and Satheesan sought votes promising to fight corruption. Political corruption is evident before us, yet even after 140 days in office, people are seeing no change,” he said. Rajeev alleged that the Congress government was playing “hide-and-seek” by neither registering an FIR nor ordering a vigilance probe.
On BJP leader V Muraleedharan’s name appearing on the list of politicians who allegedly received pay-offs from CMRL MD S N Sasidharan Kartha, Rajeev said the issue should not be diverted to the BJP. “The BJP has zero tolerance for corruption. If the BJP is also on the list, let the police register a case and we will probe it,” he said.