'Malafide intentions' behind land grabbing case, says Salimraj

Salim Raj, former gunman of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, today submitted before the Kerala High Court that the land grabbing cases filed against him were due to 'malafide intentions' of some persons to settle political scores.
In a 22-page counter affidavit filed in the two land grabbing cases at Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram, Salim Raj, removed from the post after his name figured in the Solar Panel scam, said his name and that of his wife, a revenue department official, were unnecessarily dragged into the cases.
The petitioners should have approached the magistrate court, instead of high court, Raj, against whom the high court had ordered a vigilance probe, contended.

The complaints contain only "heresay" information and none had complained before police regarding their involvement, he stated. "Allegations have been raised for the first time before high court," he stated.
However, Raj admitted that since 2004 he was among the personal security of Chandy. Due to the fact that chief minister does not have a mobile phone, phone used by personal assistants and personal security men were on many occasions utilised by government officials, political leaders and others to communicate various matters to Chandy during his travel.
Raj said the alleged falsification of revenue records took place in 2005 and 2008, the telephone records during the period cannot be retrieved. The police constable also objected to the plea seeking seizure of his telephone records.