Government Chief Whip P.C. George has demanded an independent inquiry into State Police Chief K.S. Balasubramanian’s alleged intervention in the investigation of the Chandrabose murder case to save the accused, Mohammed Nisham, a controversial businessman.
In his letters to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, Mr. George said that on the basis of an audio recording, he was convinced about the attempts of Mr. Balasubramanian to intervene in the case on behalf of the accused.
Audio CD submitted
He submitted an audio CD to substantiate his charges, besides releasing a copy of his letter to the Home Minister. “DGP Swamy [Mr. Balasubramanian] had asked DGP Krishnamoorthy to directly talk to the Thrissur City Police Commissioner (Jacob Job) to save the accused [Nisham]. I am submitting a copy of the audio CD containing the taped conversation between the City Police Commissioner and Mr. Krishnamoorthy,” he said in his letter.
Addressing a press conference here on Friday, Mr. George said his only aim was to ensure that Nisham got the maximum punishment for the gruesome murder. “I have submitted all details to the Chief Minister and the Home Minister. It is up to them to decide,” he said.
‘Protocol violated’
Mr. George said he suspected that the State Police Chief’s unscheduled visit to Thrissur was for intervention in the murder case. Mr. Balasubramanian had broken protocol by keeping the district police administration in the dark about his visit and stayed at a guest house owned by a textile magnate, he said.
The Home Minister had defended Mr. Balasubramanian, stating that he had full confidence in him. He had also mentioned that it was he who had sent Mr. Balasubramanian to Thrissur.
Mr. George said it was hard to believe that the State Police Chief had visited Thrissur as per the Home Minister’s directions.
In reply to a question on whether he believed that there was a political involvement beyond the State Police Chief’s moves, Mr. George said he had made every attempt to check whether the Home Minister had a role, but could not find any.
The timing of Mr. George’s press conference is also significant as it came on the very day the State Assembly began its session. As such, the political import of his action was quite evident as the House would hold a three-day debate on the motion of thanks to the Governor’s address from Monday.
Seeks independent probe into police chief’s role in Chandrabose case
Sees no political involvement beyond ‘police chief’s move’