Achuthanandan linked to land scam

Thiruvananthapuram: Veteran Kerala CPM leader and former chief minister V.S. Achuthanandan's image as a relentless fighter against corruption hangs in balance after the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) gathered crucial evidence linking him to the allotment of government land in Kasargod district to one of his relatives.

The probe also found that the 25-year ban imposed on transferring government land allotted to a person to a new owner was exempted in this case.

The VACB team will soon submit the report to Vigilance Director Venugopal K. Nair, seeking permission to register a case against Achuthanandan and seven others — K.P. Rajendran, former revenue minister; Sheela Thomas, former principal secretary to the chief minister; K.R. Muraleedharan, former land revenue commissioner; Krishnan Kutty and Anand Singh, former Kasagod district collectors; A. Suresh, Achuthanandan's personal assistant, and T.K. Soman, Achuthananadan's relative who was allotted the land.

According to the report, about 2.3 acres of land in Kasargod district was allotted to Soman, a retired army personnel during Achuthanandan's term.