Shobhana arrested in forgery case

After days of dithering, the Crime Branch Police arrested Shobhana George, the Congress-I MLA from Chengannur, yesterday afternoon as the third accused in the forgery of an intelligence document that falsely implicated Tourism Minister K.V. Thomas in the infamous Rs3.36-billion 'hawala' scandal.

Shobhana, who was taken to the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court from her Akkulam residence here, had to be rushed to the Medical College Hospital as she fainted in court.

She was remanded in judicial custody till October 11.

Shobhana was taken to the hospital in an ambulance after she was allowed to rest in a court room and subjected to a medical test.

She was asked at the time of her arrest if she needed any medical help but she replied that she was keeping well.

The arrest was made in the presence of Executive Magistrate and Thiruvananthapuram Tahasildar M. Sasikumar. Soon afterwards, Shobhana told the media that she would prove her innocence in the court of law.

"There will be resurrection after crucifixion," she said, putting up a brave front.

Only yesterday, a show-cause notice was issued to her by Congress-I Kerala unit President K. Muraleedharan. The notice sought explanation for her reported role in the forgery and her public criticism of party leaders.

Referring to the notice, Shobhana reiterated that she had no role in fabricating the intelligence report, but expressed regret over the critical statements she recently made against some of the party leaders, including Chief Minister A.K. Antony.

The police named her as the third accused on Monday and she was subsequently issued with a non-bailable arrest warrant. By then the party leaders appeared to have distanced themselves from her.

Even the 'I' group in the Congress led by veteran leader K. Karunakaran to which she belonged refrained from making any public remarks supporting her.

Ever since her Personal Assistant Anil P. Sreerangam was arrested over the weekend and her aide Thaniniram editor R. Jayachandran and her driver Santosh went underground, the countdown for her arrest had begun.

Others accused in the case are Anil Nambiar, of Surya TV who telecast the fake document reportedly at the behest of Shobhana, and Jayachandran.

The hunt for Janachandran has been stepped up with the police announcing a suitable reward for anyone providing clues to his wherabouts.

The police have also questioned a few more people who are believed to have been involved in the manipulation of the fake document. The latest to be quizzed is Inspector General of Police Paul Lesley. Investigating officials asked him about his links with some of the suspects in the case.

The police official was found to have received some telephone calls from a prepaid mobile phone suspected to be Shobhana's.

Shobhana now faces more days of unrest, facing the spectre of police grilling and disciplinary action from the Congress-I.