By IANS
Thiruvananthapuram : There is more trouble in store for Kerala’s Public Works Minister T.U. Kuruvilla, accused by a Kuwait-based Keralite businessman of cheating in a land deal, as two youths Saturday alleged that he had also cheated their late father.
“Kuruvilla had taken over 273 acres of land in Tamil Nadu and he has paid my father only a pittance and he still owes Rs.3.7 million. My father felt he was cheated. He died a few years back and despite several appeals to Kuruvilla, he is yet to pay up,” Sathar Mohammed told reporters here.
Sathar, a resident of Malappuram district in north Kerala, addressed a press conference along with treasury bench legislator P.C. George, who had earlier publicised businessman K.G. Abraham’s charge against the minister.
“Isn’t it quite clear now that Kuruvilla is a big dealer… (part) of the land mafia that operates in Kerala? I am not going to sit idle till Kuruvilla is sacked from the cabinet. And I am also going to unravel a mystery over two deaths that have taken place due to the land mafia,” George said.
Kuruvilla, addressing reporters for the first time after the first scandal broke out, said: “May be this is my fate, but my hands are clean and I have done no wrong.
“Please see the relevant papers where Sathar had given me all rights of the property. This agreement was made on Nov 13, 2006 vesting me with all the rights in the 20 acres of land, which is in my name. I do not know about the other properties that he is speaking about,” said Kuruvilla.
The ruling Left Democratic Front is to decide on the minister’s fate Aug 30.
Asked if he saw Aug 30 as a crucial day for him, Kuruvilla shot back: “I don’t think so”.