Not Minister Balakrishnan, but its teacher Balakrishnan

Kannur, Feb 6 (UNI) The controversy over Kerala Home Minister and CPI(M) leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan offering ''Sathrusamhara pooja'' at the Kadampuzha Bhagavathy temple took a new turn today with another Balakrishnan revealing that it was he who had actually offered the pooja.

Balakrishnan, a teacher of the Thallasery Brannan Higher Secondary School, who revealed that he had offered the pooja had also produced a receipt issued by the temple authorities in this connection.

The controversy was triggered after a report in the latest issue of ''Janasakthi magazine'' which had said the senior CPI(M) leader had visited the temple and offered ''sathrusamhara pooja'' and ''poomoodal'' at the Kadampuzha Bhagavathy temple in Malappuram district.

According to the magazine, the names of Balakrishnan and his son figure in the 'VIP list' of those who had offered the pooja at the temple. While the list had addresses of all other VIPs, the address of Balakrishnan and his son was given as Cheriyathu Thazhu, Thallasery.

Incidentally, the Minister hails from Puthiya Thazhu in Thallasery.

However, the magazine said there was no place like Cheriyathu Thazhu in Thallasery and concluded that the Balakrishnan in the list was none other than the Minister.

Soon after the report came up, the Home Minister had denied the allegation.

He today ordered a crime branch inquiry into the whole episode.

UNI