CPIM leadership in Kerala: instances of corruption and nepotism

Documented By : Think Tank Vichar Vinimay kendra, Delhi

Gold Smuggling case
Immediately after the seizure of gold from a diplomatic baggage in Trivandrum airport by the customs officials the involvement of office of the chief minister in the case become a topic of debate. Initially the chief minister and CPIM denied this allegations. But when confronted with solid proof the government suspended the principle secretary of chief minister Mr. M Shivashankaran IAS for his connection with Swapna the main culprits in the gold smuggling racket. Later the customs, ED and NIA questioned M. Shivasankaran several times. The agencies in their report submitted in the courts also mentions about the high-profile connections of Swapna Suresh (a key accused) in the corridors of power including in the office of Kerala CM. Further, there is also an allegation against the speaker of the Kerala legislative assembly Sreeramakrishnan a member of CPIM for his doubtful connections with Swapna Suresh.
Involvement of K T Jaleel in gold scandal
He is the minister for higher education, minority affairs and Waqf in the CPIM led government in Kerala. During his student days he was an activist of banned organisation SIMI. Later he joined Muslim League and become its youth wing president. Few years back he quit IUML and joined in CPIM. His name was surfaced in connection with gold smuggling when the call list of Swapna Suresh become public. The call list proved that he contacted her several times. But then the minister given a statement saying that he was contacted her on the directions of UAE consulate general for some food packages as part of Ramzan to distribute in his constituency. And he provided some whatsapp chat with the UAE envoy as proof, though people raised doubts about the authenticity of the screen shot, he evaded the public criticism skilfully. His connection with the gold smuggling racket become evident when the use of C-apt a higher education institution vehicle for the transportation of some packages surfaced. It come to notice that the transportation of the packages was under the instruction of K T Jaleel. When media reported this news, Jaleel countered it with saying that the package was Quran from the UAE. But this answer was not convincing one and his explanation itself raised many questions like why he used government vehicle to transport Quran, whether he had permission from MEA to receive Quran from UAE etc. These questions not answered satisfactorily. In this juncture the BJP and congress said that he was smuggling gold in the guise of Quran. Further, it is also came to notice that his actions were a clear violation of MEA protocols. But the LDF government is not in a mood to take action against him.
This is not the first time he is accused of misusing his office. Earlier he was accused in various activities of nepotism including illegal appointments and donation of marks by using his power as higher education minister. In some cases, the state governor intervened and reversed his decisions. Nevertheless, the CPIM led government continued to protect him due to some mysterious reasons.

Life Mission scam
As part of the investigation when the investigating agencies searched the bank locker of Swapna Suresh they found more than a crore in cash and huge quantity of gold jewellery. When confronted with this evidence Swapna told the investigating officers that the money in the locker is commission she received in the life mission deal. This statement of Swapna opened another can of worms. Life mission is a flagship housing scheme of CPIM led left government intended for needy and poor. Corruption and commission allegation in that scheme become a subject of media scrutiny and public debate. According to it the money used in a particular project to construct nearly 140 odd houses in Vadakkanchery, Kerala was received from UAE Red Crescent. The total contracted amount received from Red Crescent through the UAE consulate is 10 million UAE dirhams approximately 20 crores of Indian money. One of the contractors of the Vadakanchery project Santhosh Eappan admitted to the media over phone that he paid kickbacks as per the existing practice. When the deal came in light the MEA sought clarification from the state government regarding its deal with UAE Red Crescent. The explanation given by state over this question revealed that the state government bypassed the MEA in this deal. Further, it is also come to the notice that there is a clear violation of FCRA norms in this case.
Interestingly the later revelations in this case says that the money was not of Swapna Suresh. She is just an agent. The bank locker from which the money seized is of a joint account. And the other account holder of the locker is the CA of M Shivashankaran the principle secretary of CM. Moreover, the CA told the investigating officers that Shivashankaran only introduced Swapna to him and asked to open a joint account. But the state government and CPIM vehemently rejected corruption charges in the project. Ironically the state finance minister in a TV debate admitted that there was corruption in the Vadakkancherry project and the total kickback is 4.5 Cr.
Sprinklar data deal
Kerala government signed an MOU with Sprinkler a company based in US to share the personal data of Covid—19 patients. The opposition parties in Kerala alleged that there is privacy issue involved in the deal. The allegation of opposition parties become a valid argument when related documents about the company and the deal surfaced. It naturally created a suspicion that Sprinkler is going to sell the private details of patients to foreign medical companies. Opposition also raised corruption charges as part of this deal. They alleged that there is quid pro quo in this deal since the company had a role in the PR activities of CM Kerala. Name of Veena Vijayan daughter of CM Vijayan is also discussed in the political debates as part of this shabby deal. Here too the key figure behind the deal was none other than M Shivashankaran the principle secretary of CM. Ultimately when pressure mounted the government backed off from the deal.
Flood relief scam
There were reports about the incidents of CPIM cadre appropriating relief materials and money meant for flood victims. But CPIM rattled when cases of series of flood relief fund scam involving CPIM leaders surfaced. When investigated it come to the notice of investigating officers that crores of rupees meant for flood victims were diverted to the personal accounts of some of such persons and their spouses. Most of money diverted was from the CMDRF. This scam seriously dented the image of CPIM in Kerala. CPIM expelled one of its key leaders of Ernakulam district Zakir Hussain from the party in this connection after an internal party inquiry.
SNC Lavlin scandal
SNC Lavlin case is based on a CAG report on contract between Kerala government and Canadian company named SNC Lavalin to renovate 3 hydroelectric stations in Idukki district. According estimates due to this deal the loss to the public exchequer is 374 crores. Several politicians including incumbent CM of Kerala and the then minister of power Pinarayi Vijayan were part of this scandal. The case was investigated by CBI. The CBI court acquitted the accused persons including Vijayan, citing lack evidence. CBI filed an appeal in the high court but it also acquitted Vijayan again in 2013. At present CBI appeal in this case is pending in Supreme Court. According to sources the acquittal of Vijayan in the High court was managed by a prominent business man. It is believed that the business man paid a sum of fifty crore to the judge Mr. Ubaid who ruled the case. Recently he was again compensated with a quasi-judicial position by the state government.

E P Jayarajan nepotism case
E P Jayarajan the number two of the LDF ministry is a CPIM strongman from Kannur district. Immediately after assuming the charge of minister he managed the appointment of two of his close relatives in state public sector enterprises. When this issue was raised the state vigilance registered case against him and the minister resigned. Later the state government managed the case in the high court and ensured his acquittal. After his acquittal he was re-instated in the ministry.
A N Shamseer nepotism case
A N Shamseer is the MLA of Thalassery and youth wing leader of CPIM. He managed the appointment of his wife P M Sahala in Kannur university as assistant professor by bypassing even the first rank holder of the merit list. The appointment was with the consent and connivance of state government and ruling CPIM. Later the Kerala high court quashed the appointment and asked the university to appoint the first rank holder.
SFI-PSC rank list scandal
Kerala Public Service commission (PSC) examination fraud came to light when SFI leaders of Trivandrum district Sivaranjit and Naseem got arrested in connection with a violence in University college Trivandrum. After the arrest of SFI leaders in the case there was an allegation that the culprits got in to the rank list of PSC committing fraud, manipulation and forgery. Later the allegation were proved true in an investigation. In the PSC police rank list there were many SFI leaders that too in the top ranks. But all of them failed in a retest conducted by the investigating agencies in the jail. Though the LDF government denied any knowledge about this fraud, it is clear that such a manipulation is not possible without the consent and connivance of government officials. Further, CPIM is infamous for implementing such systematic fraud.
PPE Kit scam
During the recent no-confidence motion debate in the Kerala legislative assembly against the CM, in connection with the recent allegations, the opposition leaders alleged that there is corruption in the purchase of PPE kit for health workers to combat covid-19.
Kovalam Palace case
The decision of Pinarayi Vijayan government to hand over the government owned Kovalam palace to RP group belongs to Ravi Pillai a close friend and funder of CM Vijayan created a storm in the state. Many within the ruling LDF including CPI leaders and former CM Achutanandan protested against the decision.
Cheruvally estate airport allegation
Cheruvally estate is located near Sabarimal Sri Darmashasta temple. There is a proposal to construct an airport in the estate area. The present custodian of the estate is a church headed by Bishop Yohannan an evangelist missionary of Gospel for Asia. In reality the estate is of government but the missionary appropriated it using illegal means. The allegation is that the whole project is to benefit the missionary. If implemented the government will loss crores of rupees in this project. But the CM is adamant on supporting the bishop.
Other allegations

  1. Apart from these there are allegations and unconfirmed reports about the illegal appointments various departments. Bypassing PSC in most of the appointments in the state itself is a scam.
  2. There are corruption allegation against the free food packet scheme of state government meant for needy on the occasion Onam festival. The products procured for distribution under this scheme is of substandard, state vigilance commission corroborated this fact in its report after a raid.

featured image credit : https://www.deshabhimani.com/english/news/kerala/corruption-probe-8-udf-ministers-face-heat-in-11-cases/1664

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