By IANS
Malappuram (Kerala) : Kerala's ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Sunday said it was viewing "very seriously" the allegations of corruption levelled against Deshabhimani, the party's mouthpiece.
"We are certainly a different party and we view what has happened as a serious issue. Our state committee meeting yesterday already decided to examine how this (corruption) took place," Home Minister and CPI-M central committee member Kodiyeri Balakrishnan told reporters here after inaugurating a meeting of police officials.
Deshabhimani has been accused of accepting Rs.20 million in the form of a bond from the family members of S. Martin, a leading lottery agent, for development activities of the newspaper. The issue was brought to light by leading vernacular daily Mathrubhumi and was then taken up by the opposition.
The party organ was in the eye of another corruption case last week when K. Venugopal, a senior official at Deshabhimani, was expelled from the CPI-M following allegations that he had taken a bribe of Rs.10 million from a private financial institution, to settle the company's case.
"We have quickly responded to the charges by deciding to return the money to S. Martin," said Balakrishnan, adding the state government was legally examining what needs to be done in Venugopal's case.