Kerala House panel raps Achuthanandan on son's appointment

[1]

In a setback to CPI-M veteran V.S. Achuthanandan, a probe by a Joint Legislature Committee of the Kerala Assembly has found serious irregularities and nepotism in the appointment of his son to a key post when he was the chief minister.

The report of the panel, headed by Congress MLA V.D. Satheesan, was tabled in the state assembly today amid protests by LDF members who wanted the opposition's dissenting note to be made part of the report.

Addressing a press meet after tabling the report, Satheesan said the appointment of Achuthanandan's son, V.A. Arun Kumar, as director of ICT Academy under the state-run technical education agency IHRD, involved irregularities, procedural lapses and nepotism.

He said JLC was leaving the follow-up action on the matter to the government as the panel's task was that of a fact-finding mission.

The nine-member JLC, which included four LDF legislators, was set up in July last year following allegations that Achuthanandan as Chief Minister heading the previous LDF government, had bent rules to favour his son.

The charge was then raised in the Assembly by Congress MLA and state Youth Congress president P.C. Vishunath.

While refuting the allegation, Achuthanandan, who is Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, dared the ruling Congress-led UDF to institute a probe by a House panel.