With the police yet to unravel the plot behind the kidnap and harassment of an actor at Kochi, the Opposition on Sunday trained its guns on Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, accusing him of meddling in the investigation and shielding the actual culprits.
BJP national executive member V. Muraleedharan alleged that the Chief Minister’s premature statement that there was no conspiracy behind the crime and the CPI(M) secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan’s contention that it was an isolated incident smacked of a concerted bid to scuttle the investigation and restrict it to ‘Pulsar’ Suni, the accused who had been nabbed.
“Suni is only the proverbial tip of iceberg. A deeper probe will reveal the mafia behind the crime. The police cannot be expected to unearth the conspiracy when the government and the Chief Minister are trying to sabotage the probe,” he told a press conference, demanding that the investigation be monitored by the court or handed over to the CBI.
Mr. Muraleedharan said the actor and her family were being threatened not to reveal the names of the criminals. Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president V.M. Sudheeran said the Chief Minister’s statement revealed a deep-seated plot to torpedo the investigation and deflect its course. A press note quoting him said Mr. Vijayan’s belated attempt to correct his position was only an attempt to assuage public outrage.
“The Chief Minister is trying to set limits for the investigating team, amid attempts from certain quarters to cover up the conspiracy behind the crime. With the police under pressure from the government, only an investigation by the CBI can be expected to bring out the truth,” he said.
Mr. Sudheeran said the Chief Minister’s handling of the Home portfolio had left the police incapable of an impartial investigation. He alleged that the LDF government was pursuing a vendetta against former DGP T.P. Senkumar for investigating and taking stern action against CPI(M) leaders.
