The Hindu : Kerala News : Court issues notice to KC(J) leaders

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Wednesday, Oct 17, 2007
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Kerala

Court issues notice to KC(J) leaders

Manipulation in the selection of Mons Joseph as Minister alleged

Filing of criminal case against leaders sought
P.C. Thomas, Surendran Pillai cited as witnesses

Kochi: The Ernakulam Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Cherian K. Kuriakose on Tuesday issued notice to Kerala Congress (Joseph) leaders P.C. Thomas, MP; and V. Surendran Pillai, MLA, on a complaint seeking registration of a criminal case against party chairman P.J. Joseph and other leaders in connection with the selection of Mons Joseph as a Minister.

Mr. Thomas and Mr. Pillai have been cited as witnesses. The complaint was filed by B.V. Raveendran, a journalist. According to him, Mr. Joseph, MLA, Mr. Mons Joseph, MLA; Eapen Varghese; and K. Francis George, MP, who were arraigned as accused “connived to defeat the selection of Mr. Surendran Pillai as a Minister in the State Cabinet and manipulated the lots.” The lots were prepared by “the fourth accused (Mr. Francis George) whose nominee was Mr. Mons Joseph. The lots were picked by Mr. Eapen Varghese, a staunch supporter of Mr. Mons Joseph, and Mr. P. J. Joseph “aided and abetted the process of fraud committed in the selection of the first accused.” There were 15 lots, out of which three were blank lots and nobody knows what was in the other 12 lots. Mr. P. J. Joseph had the responsibility to keep the lots in his safe custody after the election and that had to be inquired into, the complainant said.

Mr. Raveendran said that Mr. Joseph could not “wash his hands off by saying that it was an internal matter of his party. The issue involves selection of a Minister of the State and it was not a family affair and should not be done in a most illegal manner.”

The statement of Mr. Mons Joseph that the selection was unanimous was “contrary to the facts and a blatant lie to cover up the fraud committed in the selection. There was an election and it was manipulated by the accused.” In fact, Mr. Mons Joseph was fully aware that there was an election by draw of lots.

The complainant said that Mr. Joseph and other leaders had committed offences punishable under Section 171(G) (false statement in connection with an election); Section 203 (giving false evidence); Section 415 (cheating); Section 107 (abetment); and Section 120B (punishment for conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code. The court adjourned the hearing on the petition to October 29 after recording the statement of the complainant.

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