States »SoutPosted at: Jun 3 2021 6:47PM

Another Kerala BJP leader quizzed in 'hawala' money case

Thrissur, Jun 3 (UNI) The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Kodakara black money case, quizzed BJP Ernakulam Zone Organising Secretary L Padmakumar at the Police Club here on Thursday morning.
The SIT led by Thrissur Range DIG A Akbar took statement from Padmakumar, who was in charge of Ernakulam, Idukki, Kottayam and Alappuzha districts. He was released after two hours of questioning.
Padmakumar, a RSS nominee in the BJP, did not comment to the mediapersons on the details of his questioning by the SIT.
According to various media reports, more BJP State leaders including party President K Surendran will be summoned in the coming days. There are inconsistencies between the statements taken from Dharmarajan and other BJP district leaders.
On Wednesday, the police took testimony from Thrissur BJP district president K K Aneesh Kumar, who also contested as the NDA candidate in Kunnamkulam constituency, and a few days back various leaders including Kerala BJP Organising Secretary M Ganesh and State Office Secretary G Girish in connection with the 'hawala money transported into the state during the recently-concluded election, that is estimated to be Rs 3.5 crore.
The SIT got the information that the money was meant for the Assembly election campaign of the BJP. Police conducted raids at the houses of the accused and their friends at various districts in North Malabar and recovered above Rs one crore of the Rs 3.5 crore that was stolen by a gang after waylaid a vehicle at Kodakara on April 3.
UNI AK/SS PS1845