The Hindu : Graft charges against Cherkalam

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jul 17, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram

Graft charges against Cherkalam

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM July 16. The CPI(M) MLA, M.V. Jayarajan, today alleged that the Minister for Local Self-Gov ernments, Cherkalam Abdulla, was misusing his office to amass wealth for himself and the members of his family.

He made this allegation in the Assembly while participating in the discussion on demands for grants for the Local Administration Department.

Giving a long list of business ventures, including hotels and self-financing educational institutions, Mr. Abdulla and the members of his family had started in the recent past investing crores of rupees, Mr. Jayarajan asked: ``From where does he get the money for all this.''

He alleged that for anything ranging from transfers and postings to issuing exemptions from building rules, the Minister was demanding money from the beneficiaries ``irrespective of caste, creed and political affiliations.''

He said the sale of 60 cents of prime land belonging to the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) on the Marine Drive in Ernakulam was a clear case of corruption on the part of the Minister. The land, costing Rs. 16 lakhs a cent, was sold for half the amount to a company, which happened to be the only party, which participated in the bidding.

The former chairman of the GCDA, who inquired into the deal following allegation of foul play, had found nine irregularities in the sale.

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