Fake signature row: BJP Mayor accuses CPI-M councillor in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation
Synopsis
What began as a CPI(M) forgery complaint against the BJP Mayor in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation has now flipped — Mayor V.V. Rajesh is accusing the very councillor who filed against him of forging signatures on an LDF petition. With rival police complaints now in play, the row is less about paperwork and more about who controls the narrative in a Corporation the BJP won for the first time in over four decades.
Key Takeaways
Rajesh has accused CPI(M) councillor S.P.
Deepak of forging signatures on an LDF letter seeking a special council meeting in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation .
Deepak had earlier alleged that councillor R.
Sugathan 's signatures were forged in attendance records for meetings on 26 February , 11 March , and 27 April , when Sugathan was reportedly absconding under KAAPA .
The Museum Police had registered a case naming Rajesh , Sugathan , and the Corporation Secretary as accused.
Rajesh says digital photographs with timestamps prove Sugathan attended all three meetings, and that Deepak himself posted a video of the 27 April meeting on social media.
The BJP captured the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation in December 2025 , ending over four decades of CPI(M) rule — making the ongoing power struggle especially charged.
BJP Mayor V.V. Rajesh of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation has accused CPI(M) councillor S.P. Deepak of forging signatures in a letter submitted by LDF councillors seeking a special council meeting, announcing plans to lodge a complaint with the Museum Police on Friday, 10 October 2026. The counter-allegation has transformed what began as a case against the Mayor into a full-blown political standoff between the BJP-led ruling council and the CPI(M)-led Opposition in the state capital's civic body.
How the Row Began
The dispute originated when councillor S.P. Deepak alleged that fellow councillor R. Sugathan's signatures had been forged in the Corporation's attendance records to show his presence at three council meetings — held on 26 February, 11 March, and 27 April — during a period when Sugathan was reportedly absconding after being booked under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA).
The complaint prompted the Museum Police to register a case, naming Mayor Rajesh as the first accused, Sugathan as the second accused, and the Corporation Secretary as the third accused.
Mayor's Rebuttal and Counter-Evidence
Rajesh has firmly denied the allegations, asserting that Sugathan did attend all three disputed meetings. The Mayor cited photographs taken by the Corporation's official photographer as evidence, noting that digital images with embedded date and time data had been submitted to the police.
Notably, Rajesh pointed out that Deepak himself had shared a live video and photographs on social media showing Sugathan present at the 27 April meeting, accusing the CPI(M) councillor of filing a police complaint without reviewing his own social media posts.
The Tables Turn: Mayor Files Fresh Allegation
In a sharp escalation, Rajesh has now alleged that Deepak manipulated signatures on a letter submitted by LDF councillors requesting a special council session. The Mayor described the discrepancies as glaring and said a formal complaint would be lodged with the Museum Police.
The development has opened a second front in the same dispute, with police now tasked with examining rival forgery claims from both sides simultaneously.
Political Backdrop: A Historic Power Shift
The confrontation carries significant political weight. The BJP made history in December 2025 by winning control of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation for the first time, ending more than four decades of CPI(M)-led dominance in the civic body.
The corporation has since operated under constant political friction, and the signature row reflects deeper tensions between a newly empowered ruling council and an Opposition unwilling to cede ground. With police investigations now proceeding on both sets of allegations, the outcome could have consequences well beyond a routine administrative dispute.
Point of View
Still consolidating its historic December 2025 win, has strong incentive to discredit the CPI(M)'s first major legal strike against the Mayor — and an equally strong incentive to launch one of its own. What is striking is that the Mayor's most pointed evidence is the complainant's own social media post, which, if authenticated, would fundamentally undercut Deepak's case. The police now carry a politically explosive docket: whichever side's forgery claim unravels could hand the other a durable narrative advantage ahead of future local body elections.
NationPress
9 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fake signature row in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation?
It is a dispute in which CPI(M) councillor S.P. Deepak alleged that attendance signatures of BJP councillor R. Sugathan were forged for three council meetings when Sugathan was reportedly absconding under KAAPA. The Museum Police registered a case against Mayor V.V. Rajesh, Sugathan, and the Corporation Secretary. Mayor Rajesh has rejected the allegations and has now counter-accused Deepak of forging signatures on an LDF petition.
What evidence has Mayor V.V. Rajesh presented in his defence?
Rajesh says the Corporation's official photographer captured images of Sugathan at all three disputed meetings, and that digital photographs with date and time metadata have been handed to the police. He also pointed out that councillor Deepak himself shared a live video showing Sugathan at the 27 April meeting on social media.
What is the political significance of the BJP controlling Thiruvananthapuram Corporation?
The BJP won control of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation in December 2025, marking the first time in over four decades that the CPI(M)-led alliance lost the civic body. The signature dispute reflects the ongoing friction between the newly elected BJP council and the CPI(M) Opposition.
What happens next in the case?
The Museum Police will examine rival forgery claims from both sides. Mayor Rajesh plans to lodge a formal complaint against councillor Deepak on Friday. The police must assess two parallel sets of allegations — Deepak's against the Mayor and Rajesh's against Deepak — making the investigation politically sensitive.
What is KAAPA and why does it matter here?
KAAPA stands for the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act, a law used to detain persons considered a threat to public order. The allegation is that councillor Sugathan was booked under KAAPA and was absent — yet attendance records showed him present — raising questions about alleged manipulation of official Corporation documents.
