In response to the latest political controversy dogging him, CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has denied all corruption allegations that have been levelled against him by UDF leader Shibu Baby John.
On Thursday, Shibu, who is a national committee member of the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) had taken to Facebook to level serious allegations of political graft in connection with distribution of shares of the Kannur International Airport Ltd.
Interestingly, Shibu alleged that it was LDF Pala candidate Mani C Kappen who gave statements to the CBI suggesting that Kodiyeri, during his term as Home Minister of Kerala between 2006 and 2011, had taken a bribe from a Mumbai based Malayali businessman in return for KIAL shares.
He also posted a document which he claimed contained Mani C Kappen’s statements to the CBI which incriminated Kodiyeri.
The issue
According to Shibu’s post, a Mumbai based Malayali businessman named Dinesh Menon has filed a complaint with the CBI alleging that Kappen had swindled Rs 3.5 crore from him after promising to give him shares in the Kannur airport.
Following this, Shibu refers to a document which allegedly contains Kappen’s response to CBI on the issue. In the statement, Kappen allegedly says that he had introduced Dinesh Menon to Kodiyeri and son Bineesh, and had heard that some cash transactions had taken place between them.
“When shares of the Kannur airport were being distributed, I had introduced Dinesh Menon to then Home Minister Kodiyeri and his son Bineesh Kodiyeri. After Dinesh told me that he had made the payments, I heard that some cash transactions were made between them,” Shibu’s post quotes Kappen as saying.
Following the controversial post, both Kappen and Dinesh Menon have categorically denied Kodiyeri’s involvement in the case.
“I haven’t not given any such statement. A CBI officer of SP rank had called me and threatened me to give a statement in this case. He told me that if I don’t give statement they’ll register a case against me, arrest me etc. I had filed a complaint regarding this and given it to the CBI director. Apart from that I have not given any statement,” Kappen told the media.
Meanwhile, Dinesh Menon came on record to state that his issue was only with Kappen and denied Kodiyeri’s involvement in the issue.
“I do not have any connection with Kodiyeri. I had visited him once for an official meeting of Kannur airport. Mani C Kappen had taken me to Kodiyeri‘s house. He (Kodiyeri) was the Home Minister and I paid a visit out of courtesy. I had a glass of tea with him and then I caught my next flight home to Mumbai. I have not met Kodiyeri after that,” Dinesh Menon stated.
However, the businessman added that Mani owed him Rs 3.5 crores.
“In 2012, he paid me back 25 lakhs and later gave me cheques for the remaining amount. If the cheques don;t work, he promised to pay me back by registering a piece of land in Kumarakom in my name. All the cheques bounced and when I went to see the land, I realised there was already a legal issue surrounding it. I have now filed a breach of trust and cheating case in the Kerala High Court against him,” Dinesh added.
Meanwhile, Kodiyeri said that he did not wish to add more in response to the issue. “Both Dinesh and Kappen have denied the allegations what more can I say,” he told the media.
Also read: