LDF protest over alleged lapse in probe against tycoon

CPI-M-led LDF Opposition in Kerala today staged a walkout in the Assembly protesting alleged attempts to sabotage the murder case against Beedi tycoon Mohammed Nisham accused of killing a security guard with his luxury vehicle on January 29.
Both Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala rejected the opposition charges and said government was committed to ensuring maximum punishment to the accused Nisham.
"It is a heinous crime," Chandy said, adding government was exploring legal possibility of getting financial compensation from Nisham to the family of the deceased Chandra Bose.
Giving a clean chit to DGP K S Balasubramaniyam, against whom Government Chief Whip P C George had levelled a charge that DGP had intervened and tried to help Nisham, Chandy said government had full confidence in Balasubramaniyam.

"Anyone can have difference of opinion on this, but not as part of the government," Chandy said, apparently criticising George, a nominee of KC-M, who recently had embarrassed ruling UDF by making statements against government's functioning.
Holding that investigation was progressing in the right direction, Chennithala said charge sheet in the case would be produced within the stipulated 90 days. A probe has also been ordered into Nisham's financial sources, he said.

Seeking leave for an adjournment motion on the issue, Babu M Palissery, (CPI-M), alleged that local Congress leaders were hand in glove with police to save Nisham from the case.

He also brought to the notice of the House the failure of police to preserve the clothes worn by Chandra Bose during the time of crime, which would have been an important material evidence in the case.
It was also dereliction of duty on the part of police in not taking the 'death statement' from Chandra Bose when he was under treatment in a private hosptial for 16 days. "It was intended to help the accused," he added.
On the allegation that he had met Nisham in prison, local Congress MLA, P A Madhavan, rejected the charge and said, "I will quit public life if it is proved that I met Nisham and tried to help him.I visited the prison as part of a meeting of the Jail Advisory Board, in which I am a member," he said.

Besides murder charge, Nisham has been slapped with the Kerala Anti-Social Activities Prevention Act. The businessman had allegedly in a fit of rage and inebriated state assaulted the guard and later rammed him with his vehicle over delay in opening the gate of a residential complex at Thrissur. The guard succumbed to his injuries on February 16.