Ruling Front MLA in Kerala accuses minister of corruption

Cong MLA K B Ganesh Kumar says personal staff of PWD Minister V K Ibrahim Kunju involved in corruption of several crores of rupees

The Kerala Assembly on Tuesday witnessed an unusual tussle between the ruling ally Indian Union Muslim League [IUML] and Kerala Congress (B) MLA and former Forest minister K B Ganesh Kumar as the latter alleged corruption in the Public Works Department.

The MLA accused three personal staff of PWD Minister V K Ibrahim Kunju - Abdul Rasheed, Abdul Raheem and A. Nasaruddin - of involving in corruption of several crores of rupees. These three persons are actually controlling the department. He also said that he had solid evidences of corruption in the PWD department. He said that the personal staff of the minister had demanded Rs 60 lakh for the transfer of an executive engineer in the department. When the speaker ruled that the MLA should raise the allegations in writing in the assembly, Ganesh said that he also had evidences of corruption against another minister in the cabinet. However, he did not divulge the name of the minister. Ganesh said that he had brought these corruption charges against the ministers before the chief minister weeks back, but no action was taken.

 

Ganesh said he had written to the Chief Minister seeking a CBI investigation into the matter.

"I stand here as I am an elected representative of the people. I do have information of one more minister involved in corruption. A special assembly committee should be formed to probe the matter," Ganesh, said. Opposition leader V.S. Achuthanandan has demanded an enquiry on the allegations by a special assembly committee.

Minister Ibrahim Kunju has denied the allegations and said that these are baseless. There were complaints against personal staff A. Nasaruddin and this was investigated thoroughly, and were found base less. He also said that the allegations by Ganesh Kumar were against the rules of the assembly as he was raising the charges while raising a calling attention motion in the assembly. It is against the rules of the assembly proceedings.

Meanwhile, chief minister Oommen Chandy said that strict action would be taken against the staff if they found guilty.

When T.O. Sooraj, a senior IAS officer was suspended from the service as the anti-corruption department had found that he piled up wealth through corruption, Ganesh Kumar said that Sooraj is a only a small worm, there are big bulls in the cabinet. Later he said that he reveal more evidences in a press conference. The latest allegation by a ruling Front MLA has made the United Democratic Front [UDF] leadership and the chief minister on a tight spot.

 

 

 

ENDS/