UDF govt cancels land allottment to Achuthanandan's relative

Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 1: Citing irregularities, the Congress-led UDF government in Kerala today (June 1) cancelled the allottment of 2.33 acres of land to a relative of former Chief Minister and CPI (M) veteran V S Achuthanandan and ordered a vigilance probe into the issue.

Irregularities were noticed in the allotment of land to T K Soman at Shenni village in Kasaragod district by the LDF government when the matter came up in the cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told reporters here.

He added the cabinet had cancelled the allotment order and decided to conduct a vigilance probe into the issue.

As Opposition leader in the previous regime, Chandy had alleged that the land assigned to Soman, an ex-servicemen, was in violation of rules and guidelines.

Chandy said the then government had also relaxed the condition that the land assigned should not be sold for a period of 25 years in Soman's case.

To a question, Chandy said only a probe would reveal who was responsible for violating the rules. "The government will hold a free and impartial probe into the issue without any prejudice," he said, adding the law would take its course.

Asked whether the UDF government would order probe into other corruption allegations it had raised when it was in the opposition, Chandy said a decision would be taken on the merit of each case.

PTI