Chennithala terms probe 'politically motivated'

Thiruvananthapuram, July 16 (UNI) Terming the government decision to order a vigilance probe against him ''politically motivated'', Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President Ramesh Chennithala today said he would continue his mission to expose corruption in the CPI (M).

Responding to the government's decision to probe the allegation that he had accepted Rs 10 crore during the tenure of the previous Congress-led government to settle the Kanichikulangara fake accident case, he told reporters here that he was being ''haunted'' by the CPI (M) ever since he demanded CBI inquiry into the SNC Lavalin scam.

The CPI (M), which was facing a series of corruption charges, was now trying to convince the public that other political parties were also no different. People would soon realise such false propaganda, he added.

Mr Chennithala said Advocate Hakkim, who had levelled the same allegation 23 months ago and subsequently withdrew it after he served a legal notice.

''Though he had told me that Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan was behind this, I had not taken it seriously. But now I am convinced the Home Minister is behind all these episodes,'' he added.

However, Mr Chennithala said he would serve a legal notice to the CPI (M) leaders, who made public allegation against him, and 'Desabhimani', the party organ for the alleged corruption charges against him.

Though Mr Hakkim had initially quoted the amount as Rs 10 crore, later he had scaled it down to Rs two crore and finally fixed it at Rs 50 lakh, he said and claimed the reduction of amount showed the allegation was merely fabricated.

Mr Chennithala warned that the Congress would never go back on its demand for a CBI probe into the corruption charge levelled against 'Desabhimani' Deputy General Manager that he had accepted Rs one crore from a private financial firm and Rs two crore from lottery king, S Martin.

UNI