Kerala govt to refer rape instances in opposition to Chandy, others to CBI

Months forward of Assembly polls in Kerala, the CPM-led state authorities has determined to advocate to the CBI the rape instances registered in opposition to Congress chief Oommen Chandy and his different social gathering colleagues primarily based on complaints by a lady accused within the 2013 photo voltaic rip-off.
The photo voltaic rip-off throughout the tenure of the earlier authorities led by Chandy was one of many key points within the 2016 Assembly elections through which the UDF was routed and the LDF got here to energy.
The lady alleged she was sexually exploited by Chandy, AICC normal secretary Ok C Venugopal, Congress MPs Hibi Eden and Adoor Prakash and former minister A P Anil Kumar. Then Congress chief A P Abdullakutty, who later joined the BJP and have become its nationwide vice-president, can also be an accused. Although the girl had earlier complained in opposition to Kerala Congress (M) chief Jose Ok Mani, who just lately joined the LDF, no case has been registered in opposition to him.The state Home Department on Saturday issued a gazette notification, saying the federal government has determined to refer 5 instances, registered in 2016, 2018 and 2019, to the CBI.
The judicial fee which probed the photo voltaic rip-off had really helpful in 2017 {that a} case for sexual abuse be registered in opposition to Chandy, Venugopal and different Congress leaders. The lady, in a letter to the fee, had alleged that Chandy and others sexually abused her and allowed her photo voltaic agency to make unlawful positive aspects when Congress was in energy.
Thereafter, the CPM authorities ordered registration of legal instances in opposition to Chandy and others, however there was little progress within the instances as the federal government bought antagonistic authorized recommendation. Also, Chandy moved the High Court, which quashed the case in opposition to him and restrained the media from debating contents of the letter.
The lady then filed new complaints in opposition to the Congress leaders and contemporary instances had been registered. Recently, she approached Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, searching for a CBI probe into the instances.
The lady advised the media that she didn’t see a political motive behind handing over the instances to CBI. “I had complained in opposition to 14 individuals, together with Jose Ok Mani. Now, six instances through which FIR has been registered could be handed over to CBI,’’ she stated.
CPM state secretary A Vijayaraghavan stated the federal government took a call primarily based on the complainant’s demand for a CBI probe. “The instances had been handed over to CBI as a part of making certain pure justice to the complainant,’’ he stated.
Chandy, who has been appointed chairman of the Congress election administration and technique committee, stated, “The LDF came to power after staging massive agitations against the UDF government on the solar scam issue. What have they been doing for the last five years? They did not take any action on the complaints. Let CBI probe the issue.”
Congress Chief Whip in Lok Sabha, Kodikunnil Suresh, stated the state authorities’s choice is a “ludicrous political drama”.
Union Minister and BJP chief V Muraleedharan stated Vijayan has sensed defeat within the Assembly elections. “Vijayan has been in opposition to the CBI probe into FCRA violations within the authorities housing scheme and twin murders of Youth Congress leaders by CPM cadres. The sudden love for CBI reveals the federal government’s double-standard,’’ he stated.