Kerala official in trouble over alleged bid to 'absolve' Achuthanandan in Kasaragode land scam case

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala's Information Commissioner K Natarajan is under state police scanner for allegedly influencing the investigation into the Kasaragode land scam and trying to protect former chief minister VS Achutanandan, who is a key accused in the case.

The investigating officer in the case, VG Kunhan, has alleged that Natarajan has been frequently contacting him since March 2012 and passing instructions to absolve Achuthanandan from the factual report of the investigation. He suspects that Natarajan, being a former Deputy Inspector General of Police, has been aiding and assisting the sabotage of the land scam case. A complaint has been forwarded by the Deputy Superintendent of Police against Natarajan in the matter.

Achuthanandan is being investigated in the land scam case for using his influence as chief minister to allot land to one of his relative TK Soman 'unjustifiably'. Home Ministry sources have said that an investigation is likely to be ordered in the matter.
The audio record of one such conversation, provided by the investigating officer to his seniors, has Natarajan allegedly requesting him to drop Mr Achuthanandan from the first count because that would make him liable to be charged with commissioning of offence. The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) has passed the audio 'evidence' to the cyber-forensic wing of the state police to check its authenticity. The Director of VACB has asked BSNL for details of all records of telephonic conversations between the Natarajan and Kunhan.

Meanwhile, a group of people have approached the Governor, who is the appointing authority for Chief Information Commissioner and information commissioners to refer the matter to the Supreme Court.

Achuthanandan's office has slammed the letter and audio records as fabricated, saying the Opposition has nothing to do with this.

Natarajan, who was appointed as the Information Commissioner when Mr Achutanandan was the chief minister of Kerala, was unavailable for any comments.