Letter row: Vigilance quizzes two more staff of Thiruvananthapuram mayor's office

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The vigilance and anti-corruption bureau (VACB) probing the letter row in Trivandrum corporation recorded the statements of two more staff; (two confidential assistants) of the mayor’s office on Monday.
The VACB has so far collected statements from the LDF Parliamentary party secretary DR Anil and two staff of the city corporation.
D R Anil has said that his letter seeking a list of appointments to SAT hospital was destroyed.
As regards the letter allegedly written by the mayor, the staff of the mayor’s office have not been able to verify the authenticity.
The VACB collected statements from the other staff of the mayor’s office to understand how letters are drafted and sent from the office of the Mayor.
However, the crucial step in accessing the original letter and verifying the authenticity can be taken only by analyzing the devices or social media forums where the letter had first surfaced.
Comparison of fonts among the letters usually drafted from the office of the mayor and the one which was circulated is another step. All this is possible by seeking the help of cyber cell, however, at present no FIR has been registered on this matter.
The VACB is looking at whether there have been any instances of nepotism and whether jobs have been given using the letter in the past or not.
The VACB is waiting for the report of the Crime Branch to direct the probe towards the analysis of devices and scientific investigation methods. The Crime Branch team handed over the report to the SP on Monday.
It is learnt that the team has recommended registering a case and starting a probe.
Meanwhile, the corporation's main office witnessed strong protests from various parties on Monday.
The BJP councillors lined up atop the building and staged a strike demanding that the ruling council be dismissed.