By IANS
Thiruvananthapuram : Two Kerala ministers facing corruption and criminal charges appear to be in trouble, with the state’s Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan looking into the cases.
Public Works Minister T.U. Kuruvilla is facing corruption charges regarding transfer of a plot of land, while Health Minister P.K. Sreemathi’s name has cropped up in a rape and murder case.
Trouble for Kuruvilla started last month when treasury bench legislator P.C. George alleged that Kuruvilla’s three sons had accepted Rs.67.5 million from Kuwait-based businessman K.G. Abraham for transfer of a plot of land.
Based on the allegation, Achuthanandan asked Revenue Minister K.P. Rajendran to look into the matter.
Rajendran Tuesday directed Idukki collector Raju Narayana Swamy to investigate and submit a report in two days.
Kuruvilla Monday said that the money was accepted as advance for the transfer of a 50-acre cardamom plantation at Munnar owned by his sons.
George said: “In the assembly last month, Kuruvilla said his children sold the land in Tamil Nadu and now he says it took place in Munnar. Achuthanandan should also say whether Kuruvilla’s recent secret visit to Kuwait was known to him.”
Health Minister Sreemathi is also in the news after Surendran, father of Killiroor gang rape case victim Shari, Tuesday asked Achuthanandan to initiate a new inquiry into the death of his daughter.
Shari, in her teens, died in mysterious circumstances in a private hospital in Kottayam in 2004. Achuthanandan had then said that, according to the doctors, the victim’s health deteriorated after a VIP visited her.
“I have told Achuthanandan that he should inquire into the visit of Sreemathi because she was the VIP and the condition of my daughter turned worse after her visit,” Surendran said.
The chief minister is under pressure in this case because in the last assembly polls, Achuthanandan had said that he would bring that VIP to book in six months time after assuming power.