DYFI leader embezzled SC/ST funds, says K Surendran

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: State BJP president K Surendran levelled corruption charges against a DYFI state committee member in connection with central funds for the development of the scheduled castes.
He alleged that the scandal took place with the knowledge of top CPM state leaders, including former SC/ST minister A K Balan and the present acting state secretary A Vijayaraghavan.
Surendran revealed the name of the DYFI member as Prathin Krishna of Thiruvananthapuram. He alleged that lakhs of rupees meant for SC development were also transferred from a treasury account to the accounts of Prathin’s father Parthasarathy Krishna and mother Ushakumari S.
The corruption was done using the support of a SC promoter of Thiruvananthapuram city corporation. Lakhs of rupees from the fund have gone into the accounts of various other CPM members since 2016. This is only the tip of an iceberg, said the BJP leader.
Besides, Vijayaraghavan and Balan, the scandal was also known to a host of other CPM leaders, including Kadakampally Surendran, V K Madhu, Jayan Babu and S S Rajalal.The chief minister should explain this and he should order an immediate inquiry. “There is enough evidence to prove that the DYFI leader was involved in pilfering funds. A complaint has already been given against him to Vijayaraghavan. But the party leadership ignored the complaint,” he added.
Minister assures action
Meanwhile, minister for SC/ST welfare K Radhakrishnan made it clear that there will be action in the case and it has already been brought to the notice of the chief minister. An inquiry has been ordered and all those involved will be brought before the law, the minister said.
However, two employees of the city corporation have been charged with pilfering money meant for poor people from the scheduled castes and they have been suspended from service. The police suspect that more employees may be involved in the fraud.
The two officers had diverted money for months to bank accounts in which they had access. The fraud was reported from the Kerala Scheduled Castes Development Corporation office in the municipal corporation.
The district officer found that the two officers linked the bank details of their relatives in place of the accounts of beneficiaries. Once the requests for monetary aid were approved, the money was supposed to be deposited to the beneficiary accounts.
Museum police have filed cases against senior clerk U R Rahul and field promoter Sangeetha. Sangeetha is accused of pilfering at least R 2.75 lakh and Rahul about Rs 4 lakh between August and March. It was not clear if they had been doing it before August.