Revolutionary Marxist Party (RMP) leader T.P. Chandrasekharan’s killing on May 4, 2012, returned to haunt the Lok Sabha poll campaign on Monday with CBI counsel reportedly telling the media in Delhi that the CBI is not inclined to investigate the conspiracy angle of the case as sought by the Kerala government.
The CBI stand, which amounted to vindication of the CPI(M) allegation that the decision to leave the case to the CBI was politically motivated, left the United Democratic Front leadership in a state of confusion.
While Defence Minister A.K. Antony and Minister of State for Home Mullappally Ramachandran said they would comment on the issue only after studying CBI counsel’s reported statement, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and other leaders said the State government remained firm in its demand.
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Responding to reporters’ queries, the Chief Minister and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said the CBI had already once told the State government that it was not interested in probing a case that had already been investigated by the State police.
KPCC president V.M. Sudheeran also went on record that there must be a CBI probe and that the State government must continue exerting pressure on the CBI to take up the case.
Reacting to the reports, CPI(M) State secretary Pinarayi Vijayan said the CBI stand was quite natural. The CBI could only take such a stand in an instance of this nature, he said.
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Chandrasekharan’s wife and RMP leader K.K. Rema said there was no question of the RMP going back on its demand for a CBI probe. The party would also explore legal avenues to get the CBI to investigate the case.