Plea In Kerala High Court Seeks CBI Probe Into Thiruvananthapuram Mayor's 'Letter' Seeking List Of CPI(M) Workers For Appointments

An Ex-Councillor of the Medical College Ward in Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation, G. S. Sreekumar, has moved the Kerala High Court seeking CBI or judicial investigation into Thiruvananthapuram Mayor Arya Rajendran's purported letter seeking a list of CPI(M) party members for appointment to various posts on a contract basis in the Health Division of the Municipal Corporation.

In the petition moved through Advocate K. R. Rajkumar, it has been alleged that the Mayor Rajendran and the LDF Parliamentary Party Secretary D.R. Anil, who belongs to the ruling party, had requested the CPI(M) Party District Secretary to provide the list of party members for appointment to various posts in the Health Division of the Municipal Corporation.

According to media reports, Rajendran has said the letter is fake.

Sreekumar in the petition has argued that the "act of Nepotism" of Rajendran and Anil is very much against the oaths taken by them at the time of swearing in as Councillors in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.

The Petitioner alleges that in the last two years, more than thousand appointments were made "in this fashion by the Corporation and a detailed investigation into this matter is highly necessary."

It is further alleged in the petition that corruption has become rampant after the incumbent Mayor has taken the oath and "is allowing nepotism to be promoted".

The interests of those "who are near and dear to their party" are being taken care of, and the entire recruitment process of the corporation is bypassed and hijacked by the ruling party as if "cell administration" is going on for recruiting only the persons connected with the party, the petitioner has alleged.

The Petitioner has also submitted that a complaint has been filed before the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau; however, he apprehends that there might be high and mighty entities to help the Mayor and the LDF Parliamentary Party Secretary to hush up the matter",

Sreekumar has said the investigation be directed to be conducted by an impartial authority "who will not be fettered with the political high and mighty of Kerala State."

Case Title: G. S. Sreekumar v. State of Kerala and Others