THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan has strongly refuted the charge that his office had tampered with the file relating to transfer of control of the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB) to the Centre, and said that the allegation is meant only to cover up the massive irregularities in the running of six major research institutions in the State.

Replying to a submission by Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy on the issue in the Assembly on Tuesday, Mr. Achuthanandan said he was rejecting the charge "with the contempt it deserved," and said it was part of a persistent vilification campaign against his office.

The current campaign was the fallout of detection of grave irregularities in the running of six science and technology centres in the State by the Finance Inspection Wing, he said.

The investigation by the wing had shown that a person who has passed just the SSLC examination had been posted as public relations officer and another aged above 60 had been given reappointment on a huge pay packet. It had also revealed payment of huge sums as travel and medical reimbursement allowances against dubious claims, misuse of phones and purchase of equipment and stationery at Rs. 1.7 crore without obtaining Government sanction.

The Chief Minister said the irregularities were not something unique to the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology. Mr. Chandy alleged that there were clear evidences of file tamperingand that one whole page in the file had been replaced with a new one after the Chief Minister had signed on it on June 17, 2006.

At a press conference, Mr. Chandy said it was unfortunate that the Chief Minister refused to table the controversial files and had not quoted from the files.

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