Kodiyeri trying to tarnish Chennithala's image:Cong

Kochi, July 20 (UNI) Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee General Secretary Ajay Tharayil today charged Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan with hatching a 'conspiracy theory' to tarnish the image of KPCC President Ramesh Chennithala.

Addressing newspersons here, Mr Tharayil alleged that Mr Balakrishnan had some 'relationship' with the two accused in the Kanichukulangara murder case -- Sajith and Bineesh, and was trying to force them to give statement against Mr Chennithala to the Vigilance Department.

The Vigilance department was probing allegations on Mr Chennithala receiving around Rs ten crore from the 'Himalaya Group', an organisation belonging to the accused, to avail favours from the Congress leader.

''The Minister was forcing them to give a statement with the promise of hushing up the murder case,'' he claimed.

'' The CBI or a sitting judge should investigate the deeds of Mr Balakrishnan,'' he added.

UNI