Another one bites the dust

 

 

Kerala Public Works Minister, T.U. Kuruvila, has decided to quit. He was left with no other option after the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) on Thursday decided to order a judicial probe into the allegations of cheating against him and his children in a land deal.

The Chief Minister, V.S. Achuthanandan, after the meeting said in no uncertain terms that "It is natural for Kuruvila to stay out of office once the judicial probe is on. Kuruvila or his predecessor P.J. Joseph can return to the Cabinet once their innocence is proved."

Kuruvila was equally prompt. "In the wake of LDF recommendation for a judicial probe against me and my children, I feel it is unfair to continue as a minister. I have conveyed my intentions to party chairman P.J. Joseph," he said.

It all began with the LDF-backed, P.C. George, MLA, alleging that Kuruvila’s son, Eldo Kuruvila, and daughters Rekha Thomas and Renu Powel, had promised to sell 50.52 acres of their land in Rajakumari village near Munnar to Gulf businessman, K.G. Abraham, for construction of a resort. It was alleged that the deal was struck when Kuruvila had visited the Gulf and had received Rs 6.75 crore as advance.

Abraham has alleged cheating by the minister and his children and backtracked from the deal, demanding his money back. The land is protected under cardamom plantation rules and cannot be sold for any other purpose. There were allegations of tampering with the survey and land records too.

The Idukki District Collector had probed the land deal and found irregularities in the deal on 13 counts. Revenue Department Principal Secretary, Nivedita P. Haran, too found prima facie truth in the allegations.

The District Collector had transferred the entire village staff, including the village officer giving credence to the allegations.

For the ruling LDF partner Kerala Congress (Joseph), it has become an annual affair.

P.J.Joseph had hit the headlines when he allegedly outraged the modesty of a co-passenger on a flight from Chennai to Kochi on August 3 last year.