BJP alleges 'fixed match' between UDF and LDF in CMRL-Exalogic payoff case
BJP's Shone George released a purported CMRL payoff list naming leaders across parties, alleging a 'fixed match' between UDF and LDF.
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday sought to frame the ruling Congress-led United Democratic Front and the Opposition Left Democratic Front as participants in a "fixed match" over the CMRL-Exalogic payoff case, with State vice-president Shone George releasing a purported list of payments allegedly made to political leaders by S.N. Sasidharan Kartha, managing director of Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited.
Mr. George questioned why the government had not registered an FIR or ordered a Vigilance probe into the allegations. He said the list, which he claimed was shared by YouTuber Shajan Skariah on WhatsApp, was drawn from a page of documents submitted by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office to a court. The authenticity of the list could not be independently verified.
The names and payments cited in the list included Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, Health Minister K. Muraleedharan, Forest Minister Shibu Baby John, Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan, MP Hibi Eden, and several other Congress, CPI(M) and CPI leaders.
Shortly after, a second list began circulating on social media, described as cropped from the one Mr. George had presented. It included the name of BJP MLA V. Muraleedharan along with other RSS and Hindu Aikya Vedi leaders.
Asked about this at a press conference, the BJP MLA said the media should establish whether there was "another person named Muraleedharan" in the party, adding that he had not accepted any money.
Health Minister K. Muraleedharan rejected Mr. George's allegations, saying he does not conceal that donations were accepted during election time, but that this could not be equated with the allegations in the CMRL-Exalogic payoff case.
Responding to the inclusion of CPI leaders, CPI State secretary Binoy Viswam said party leaders had "accepted funds only through proper channels" for elections and State conferences.
BJP State president Rajeev Chandrasekhar said the police should file an FIR and investigate. "If there is any allegation against BJP leaders, let them file an FIR, but before that, file an FIR against the Chief Minister too," he said.