VS asks 10 lakhs more from party to fight cases

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan has written a letter to the party demanding Rs 10 lakh more from the party to meet expenditure for fighting various cases against corruption in courts.


Party sources said VS has asked for more money from the party to meet the expenditure for palmolein and ice-cream-sex scandal cases in which Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, and IUML leader and Industries Minister and P K Kunhalikutty, were allegedly involved. Earlier, CPM State Unit Secretary Pinarayi Vijayan alleged that the money spent for cases against corruption was not being accounted for.


He also questioned the source of income of VS for filing the cases.


Replying to the allegation, VS said noted lawyers like Gopal Subrahmaniam and Shanti Bhushan had never accepted money from him for taking up cases. He clarified that the lawyers never charged him considering his stand against corruption.


Claiming that his battle against corruption began even before Anna Hazare came to the forefront, he said though the party had given him money to file some cases, he invariably paid from his own pocket. 'Though the party had given some money (nearly Rs 10 lakh) for the cases, it was not sufficient. In this situation, the party should provide Rs 10 lakh more for the cases pending in courts,' he said.