Son wants smear on Karunakaran erased

The sensational Isro spy case has become a pain in the neck for the Congress-led government in Kerala with party leader K Muraleedharan, MLA and former chief minister K Karunkaran’s son, asserting on Monday that he would go to any extent to prove the innocence of his father in the case.

He said if Chief Minister Oommen Chandy failed to take action on his letter seeking action against the three state police officers who had investigated the case before handing it over to the CBI, he would move the court against them. “If the chief minister and KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala ask me to withdraw the demand as it will adversely affect the party and the government, I, being a disciplined party worker, will oblige,” he said.

Ruling UDF chairman P P Thanckachan said Muraleedharan’s request would be considered soon.

According to the findings of the state police, in 1994 two top scientists had handed over the drawing of cryogenic engine being developed by Isro and several rockets to two Maldivian women who were spies of  Pakistan. It was alleged that Raman Srivastava, a senior police officer, who was very loyal to Karunakaran, had illicit relations with the women. The CBI inquiry found that all charges were fictitious.