Kerala: Congress MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan Booked For 'Irregularities' In Land Purchase

The FIR is likely to be submitted to Muvattupuzha Vigilance Court on Wednesday.

Earlier, Vigilance court on Monday dismissed Mathew Kuzhalnadan's petition for an investigation against the CM and his daughter Veena Thaikkandiyil.

Source : Facebook/MathewKuzhalnadan

An FIR has been lodged against Congress MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan by the Idukki Vigilance Unit regarding a land deal in Chinnakanal, Kerala. The FIR alleged that Kuzhalnadan purchased the land despite being aware of irregularities.

According to ANI, An FIR has been registered against Congress MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan by Idukki Vigilance Unit. There are a total of 21 accused in the case. FIR states that Kuzhalnadan bought the land after knowing that there was an irregularity. The FIR will be submitted to the Muvattupuzha Vigilance Court today.

Land deal in Chinnakanal (Kerala): FIR registered against Congress MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan by Idukki Vigilance Unit. There are a total of 21 accused in the case.

FIR sattes that Kuzhalnadan bought the land after knowing that there was an irregularity. The FIR will be submitted…

— ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2024

 

A senior VACB officer revealed on Wednesday that a preliminary inquiry conducted by the agency indicated that the resort owned by the Muvattupuzha MLA was situated on surplus land, which should not have been eligible for conversion or registration. The land in question had been converted and registered long before Kuzhalnadan's purchase in 2020, raising suspicions that he was aware of the irregularities at the time of acquisition, according to the officer.

Hence, the MLA has been arrayed as the 16th accused in the case which was registered on Tuesday, he said, as per a report on PTI.

Apart from Kuzhalnadan, the FIR also implicated three retired government officials, including a former Tehsildar of the area, as well as five serving government employees, the officer confirmed.

Earlier, in a significant development favouring CM Pinarayi Vijayan, the Vigilance court on Monday dismissed Mathew Kuzhalnadan's petition for an investigation against the CM and his daughter Veena Thaikkandiyil. The petition alleged that they received monthly payments from Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) in exchange for favouring the company's operations.