Chief sec to probe report on dailies

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The chief secretary will conduct a probe on the report of the intelligence wing of Kerala police that Kerala Kaumudi, Malayala Manorama and Mathrubhumi carried news in favour of Tamil Nadu on inter-state water sharing issues between the two states.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy directed the chief secretary to submit the report within three days.

The intelligence wing of the police claimed that these three dailies carried news in favour of Tamil Nadu and reporters had accepted benefits for that. The owners of the three dailies have jointly sought an investigation on it.

The letter stated that the dailies carried news protecting the interests of Kerala in water sharing issue. If it is the other way round, the government should clarify which report was that. The government should also reveal if at all any reporter of the dailies have accepted benefits through an official of Tamil Nadu.