Suspended IAS officer N Prasanth has issued a legal notice to Kerala Chief Secretary Sarada Muraleedharan and two senior officials, alleging document fabrication and manipulation of official records.
The notice, also sent to Mathrubhumi newspaper, names Industries Director K Gopalakrishnan and Additional Chief Secretary A Jayathilak as respondents.
The controversy stems from an inquiry report authored by Jayathilak during Prasanth's tenure as the founding CEO of Unnathi, a state-government initiative for the social and economic development of students belonging to SC/ST communities. The report had flagged alleged irregularities, including missing files and attendance discrepancies.
Prasanth, in his notice, has contested the report's authenticity, claiming it was "deliberately crafted" to tarnish his reputation. He has accused Gopalakrishnan of fabricating letters that formed the basis of Jayathilak's inquiry report.
The suspended officer maintains that the allegedly missing files are in the possession of both Jayathilak and Gopalakrishnan. He claims to have alerted Chief Secretary Muraleedharan about these manipulations in November, but no action was initiated.
The notice demands a public apology and disciplinary action against the officials, failing which Prasanth has threatened criminal proceedings against those involved.
Prasanth, who served as Special Secretary in the Agricultural Department, was suspended in November for his social media posts criticising Jayathilak. The episode has triggered a fresh controversy in Kerala's bureaucratic circles.