BJP for ED probe into fraud allegations against Kerala's CPI-M secretary's son

Kochi: The BJP on Thursday approached the Enforcement Directorate seeking a probe into alleged illegal financial transactions carried out by the son of CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan from the state.

According to a complaint by the Dubai-based JAAS Tourism company, Binoy, elder son of the senior CPI(M) leader, had allegedly cheated the firm of Rs 13 crore.

Kerala BJP state general secretary A N Radhakrishnan said the party has sought a thorough probe by the agency into the financial dealings of Balakrishnan's family members including his sons Binoy and Bineesh.

The BJP leader said he along with the party's state media cell co-convener met a top ED official currently in Kochi and pressed for a probe into the matter.

Radhakrishnan said he has informed the ED official that Balakrishnan and his sons "amassed" huge wealth disproportionate to their known sources of income.

The move by the BJP state leadership came a day after the party's national leadership demanded Balakrishnan's resignation over the reports of defrauding by Binoy, claiming that his action had "shamed" India. BJP spokesperson GVL Narasimhra Rao had yesterday said that Binoy had used "strong arm tactics" of his father to commit the cheating and demanded that he should subject himself to police probe in Dubai.

Echoing the line of BJP national leadership, which said it was a major case of financial fraud, Radhakrishnan alleged that the vehicle used by the CPI(M) leader for the party's 'Jana Jagratha Yatra' in October last years belonged to a person accused in a gold smuggling case.

Kodiyeri had conducted a roadshow in a mini-Cooper convertible car owned by a person accused of smuggling gold when his yatra had reached Koduvally in Kozhikode, they said. This incident had revealed his connection with the gold smuggling racket, he claimed.

In this context, a detailed investigation into his dealings has been sought, Radhakrishnan told PTI here.

In its complaint to the ED, the BJP stated that there were enough indications in the complaint given by a UAE citizen about swindling of money to the tune of crores of rupees by Binoy.

"There is every reason to suspect that the huge amount of money extracted from the UAE citizen has been brought to India through Hawala channels," it alleged.

The party also alleged that the sons of Balakrishnan had not yet faced any action in accordance with law only for the reason that they were enjoying the political patronage of their father.

"Under this circumstances, I request you to take appropriate action in the matter and to proceed against Balakrishnan and his sons," the complaint said.

The ruling CPI(M) in Kerala is under attack from the BJP and the Congress after allegations of financial fraud surfaced against Balakrishnan's son.