Is CPI(M) Leadership Silent on Serious Financial Allegations?

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 19 (NationPress) The political atmosphere in Kerala intensified on Tuesday as the Leader of Opposition (LoP) V.D. Satheesan criticized the CPI(M) leadership for their unresponsive stance regarding a leaked letter that raises serious claims of financial misconduct involving senior party members, including ministers.

Central to this issue are allegations against the son of CPI(M) state secretary M.V. Govindan.

The controversy was ignited by Chennai-based entrepreneur Muhammad Sharshad, who accused certain CPI(M) leaders of unlawful financial dealings. He asserted that documents related to his complaint were improperly leaked and later appeared in a case being heard in New Delhi.

Sharshad has also taken issue with the CPI(M)-owned newspaper 'Deshabhimani' for claiming that the letter had been previously circulated, contending that only the cover page was known until now.

On Tuesday evening, Govindan sent a lawyer’s notice to Sharshad demanding an apology within three days for the defamatory allegations he made. The notice warned that failure to comply would result in legal repercussions.

The letter alleges that ministers and prominent leaders participated in hawala and reverse hawala transactions. It claims that a company was established in Chennai to facilitate the influx of foreign funds, which were subsequently deposited into the accounts of CPI(M) leaders. While no leaders have denied receiving funds, the only response came from former Finance Minister Thomas Isaac — who notably is not facing serious accusations in the letter,” Satheesan noted.

Rajesh Krishnan, a former SFI activist residing in London, is a pivotal figure in these allegations. Satheesan highlighted that Krishnan's involvement in financial transactions and state projects raises significant concerns.

“He accompanied Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan during his trip to London. Former Fisheries Minister Mercykutty Amma acknowledged that Krishnan contributed Rs 5 lakh to a departmental initiative, but the origin and intent of these payments remain ambiguous,” he added.

The letter also states that Krishnan was expelled from the CPI(M) Madurai Party Congress earlier this year, a point he has accepted.

He subsequently lodged a defamation lawsuit in a Delhi court, where the contentious letter was submitted as evidence — granting it legal weight.

Satheesan argued that the CPI(M)’s lack of response only enhances the credibility of the allegations.

“It's noteworthy that Chief Minister Vijayan himself initiated a CBI investigation into Oommen Chandy during the solar scam controversy based solely on a letter. Today, he opts for silence,” Satheesan remarked.

While State Fisheries Minister Saji Cherian dismissed the letter as “unimportant,” BJP leader and Union Minister V. Muraleedharan called for an investigation by a national agency, given the gravity of the hawala and reverse hawala claims involving senior CPI(M) leaders.