Vigilance probe ordered into 'Deshabimani' deals

Thiruvananthapuram, July 13 (UNI) A local court today ordered a vigilance inquiry into the two controversial financial deals involving CPI(M) organ 'Desabhimani.' Admitting a petition from Indian Lawyers Congress President P A Rahim, Vigilance Court Judge K Sasidharan Nair asked the Vigilance Director to register a case and probe the allegation that Desabhimani accepted Rs two crore from lottery king S Martin while Deputy General Manager K Venugopal accepted Rs one crore as bribe from a private financial establishment.

Since acceptance of money from a tainted businessman was a scandal, the plea of the petitioner a case should be taken against Desabhimani General Manager E P Jayarajan was also accepted by the court.

Mr Venugopal allegedly accepted Rs one crore as bribe from a private financial establishment, which forced to close down its operations following widespread complaints last year, promising favours to settle their cases.

Later, following widespread allegation from various quarters, he was expelled from the party and removed from the post.

In the other incident it was stated the same newspaper had collected Rs two crore from the absconding lottery kingpin S Martin in the form of a bond.

As the issues had witnessed a series of heated debates and subsequent walkouts by the Opposition from the State Assembly, the CPI(M) decided to return the amount to Mr Martin.

Though the police had made an investigation on Mr Venugopal's issue, it was closed as the management of the financial firm reversed their earlier statement that it had given Rs one crore to Mr Venugopal to settle the issue.

Though both Chief Minister V S Acguthanandan and Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan had informed the state Assembly that investigation into the issues were going on, the Opposition had alleged that the inquiry was only ''eyewash'' UNI