Chandy demands legal action against Achuthanandan

BADAGARA - Kerala’s opposition Congress leader Oommen Chandy Sunday demanded legal action against Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan over allegations raised by Communist Party of India-Marxist leader P. Sasi.

Sasi, political secretary to ex-chief minister E.K. Nayanar (1996-2001) and CPI-M Kannur district secretary, in a letter to party state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan Sunday said that Achuthanandan had tried to influence Justice Mohan Kumar Commission, which probed the Kalluvathukkal liquor tragedy in 2000 that claimed 32 lives.

He alleged that frequent insinuations against him by the chief minister in the media pained him deeply.

Sasi, who is on medical leave from the party, asked Vijayan to relieve him of all responsibilities since his health has further deteriorated.

He also alleged that Achuthanandan has been attacking him as part of a conspiracy and that things got worse after he refused to heed the senior leader’s directions in the controversial liquor tragedy of October 2000.

Chandy, who is on the last leg of his state-wide march, told a public meeting here that this is a very serious revelation.

Sasi has put this allegation in writing. If the Left government can reopen an old case (the ice cream parlour sex scandal case) following one person’s revelation, then the law should be the same to all,” he said.

“Legal action must be taken against the chief minister over Sasis disclosure and an inquiry must be launched,” Chandy demanded.

The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) had Sunday attacked Achuthanandan, accusing the chief minister’s office of conspiring to rake up the sex scandal case that was closed years ago.

Achuthanandan has denied the allegation.