Land deal: Minister expresses willingness to resign

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 31 (UNI) Kerala Public Works Minister T U Kuruvila, allegedly involved in the ''murky land deals'', today expressed his willingness to resign from his office after the ruling Left Democratic Front demanded a judicial inquiry into the deals.

''I have expressed my willingness to resign after the LDF sought a judicial inquiry. I do not intend to continue in office as a minister when a judicial inquiry is on,'' Mr Kuruvila told reporters after his party Kerala Congress (Joseph)'s meeting here.

KC(J) Chairman P J Joseph said Mr Kuruvila had expressed his willingness and a decision would be taken at the Party's Working Committee on September two.

Pointing out that the Chief Secretary's report on the land deals had only demanded a detailed investigation into the land deals without naming Mr Kuruvila's or his family members, he said ''though Mr Kuruvila or his family members are not mentioned in the report, he had expressed his willingness to resign as he did not wish to remain in office after the demand for a judicial inquiry. The Chief Secretary's report and all the relevant facts regarding the issue would be discussed and a decision would be taken, he added.

The LDF today demanded a judicial inquiry into the alleged involvement of Kerala Public Works Minister T U Kuruvila in the ''murky land deals''.

The trouble broke out for Mr Kuruvila after an NRI businessman alleged that the Minister's family members failed to execute a deal for the sale of 50.52 acres of land in Munnar. He was allegedly offered the land for the construction of resorts in the emerging tourist destination.

Revenue authorities had also found that the land transaction by Mr Kuruvila's family members at Rajakumari Village was done ''dubiously'' after ''tampering with records and violating revenue rules''.

UNI