VS first accused in land scam case
Veteran CPM leader and former Kerala chief minister V S Achuthanandan was named the first accused in a case on the allotment of government land to his relative in violation of norms.
The state government on Tuesday informed the High Court that K P Rajendran (CPI), revenue minister in his ministry, was the second accused. Achuthanandan’s personal assistant Suresh and his relative Soman, a former army personnel, were also accused in the case.
The government told the court that the charge sheet would be filed in a couple of weeks.
However, all IAS officers, including former principal secretary Sheela Thomas who is serving as the Rubber Board chairperson at present, have been dropped from the case.
The investigating officer, DySP Kunjan, had filed the affidavit on behalf of the state. The affidavit stated that Soman had got land by understating his income. This apart, the norm that government land allotted to an individual should not be disposed of for 25 years was relaxed. The case has been posted for hearing on November 26. Achuthanandan, during his tenure as the chief minister, had allegedly intervened and allotted 2.3 acres to Soman, violating norms.
