Chandy refuses allegation of not cooperating with CBI in land grab case

He said government had provided all necessary information sought by CBI

Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today refuted CPI(M)-led LDF's allegation that the government was not cooperating with CBI in the two alleged land grab cases involving his former gunman Salim Raj.

Replying to a notice for an adjournment motion in the House moved by V S Shivankutty (CPI-M), Chandy said government had provided all necessary information sought by CBI.

He further said the investigating agency had not made any complaint in this regard to the government.

However, Chandy said CBI counsel approached the High Court with a petition on June 20 stating the government was not cooperating with the probe.

Indicating that someone was behind such a petition, he said the counsel withdrew it after government officials and CBI held talks.

"CBI officials came to know about the petition only when local television news channels aired its contents as breaking news. There is no such a petition before the High Court now," Chandy said rejecting LDF charges based on the petition.

He also made it clear that cases would take its own legal course and government would fully cooperate with it.

Ever since the issue came up two years ago, Chandy was under attack from opposition in the wake of alleged link of Salim Raj in the cases related to fraudulent take over of lands at Kadakampally in Thiruvananthapuram and Kalamassery in Ernakulam.

Shivankutty alleged that government was trying to sabotage the probe by not cooperating with it and CBI petition in this regard was a clear pointer to this.

After the reply of Chief Minister, Speaker G Karthikeyan disallowed the leave for motion leading to walkout by LDF opposition members.

Before trooping out of the House, opposition leader and CPI(M) veteran V S Achuthanandan alleged that Chandy was protecting Salim Raj.

The cases were handed over to CBI following a High Court directive.