Kerala CEO seeks report on MP's revelation

A Congress sitting MP from Kerala, M K Raghavan, is in a tight spot, after a news channel aired a sting operation report in which the MP reveals that he had to spend Rs 20 crore in the 2014 elections and also accepts the offer of Rs 5 crore as commission for a real estate deal.

Kerala Chief Electoral Officer Teeka Ram Meena has sought a factual report from the Kozhikode district collector (who is also the returning officer) and the police, on the matter.

If the matter is found to be true, serious actions might have to be taken, Meena told DH.

While Raghavan, who is contesting for a third term from Kozhikode, said that the allegations are a political ploy, the Left front in Kerala has sought action against the sitting MP, who is again contesting from Kozhikode.

Raghavan turned emotional while addressing a press conference denying the allegations. He alleged that it was a character assassination by the CPM.

Raghavan made the controversial revelations to a Hindi news channel crew who posed as real estate agents looking for 15 acres of land in Kozhikode for constructing a star hotel.

The MP was offered Rs 5 crore in commission and he told them to hand it over to his private secretary at Delhi.

During the conversation, the MP is heard saying he had to spent Rs 20 crore in 2014 elections and but received only Rs 2 crore from the Congress.