By IANS
Kochi : The Kerala government Tuesday termed as invalid the controversial land deal between businessman Savy Mano Mathew and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
In an affidavit filed before the Kerala High Court, the state government said: “When the agreement was signed between Mathew and ISRO, it was forest land and he had no right to sell that land.”
The forest department filed the affidavit after two separate cases were registered, questioning the fraudulent deal.
Controversy has been raging ever since ISRO purchased 82 acres of land at the Ponmudi hills, 70 km from here, from high profile businessman Mathew in March to set up a proposed space institute.
The opposition has been alleging that this land was sold in connivance with state Forest Minister Binoy Viswom and has been demanding his resignation and a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe.
Last week, opposition leader Oommen Chandy had said that ISRO should not insist on the land in Ponmudi hills for setting up its institute.
Chandy’s statement came after Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan agreed to give a free land to ISRO, but not in Ponmudi hills since it came under the ‘eco-fragile’ category.