CPM strikes back with probe against PCC chief

The CPIM brought up the graft issue in the Assembly today through its central committee member P Jayarajan, who moved a submission. Jayarajan said V A Hakim, former legal advisor of the Himalaya group which is a local finance company, has given a statement to the police implicating Chennithala. Hakim has also reportedly promised to provide evidence when required. Hakim had a fallout with the Himalaya group8217;s owners, and now heads a popular action committee against the company.

The Himalaya group hit headlines after its two partners and their henchmen were arrested for a triple murder on a highway. Both the partners are in jail at present. The charge is that they used an old truck specifically bought for the operation, and their men rammed the truck into the car of an old employee-turned-rival and his family. The three, who were in the car, died on the spot.

Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said Hakim has told the cops that Chennithala met the Himalaya men at Taj Hotel in Kochi, and took Rs 50 lakh in cash. A local property worth about Rs 1.5 crore was then arranged to be procured for him. They also arranged to buy another property in Tirunelvely worth Rs 8 crore for Chennithala.

The Minister said though the allegation had been doing the rounds in the media for a while, the Government decided to ask the Vigilance Department to probe the case after Hakim8217;s statement was registered.

Chennithala claimed he welcomed the probe. He maintained that the CPIM, which he said has become a laughing stock after the expose, was only trying to grab non-existent political straws.