Fresh probe launched against KPCC chief K. Sudhakaran in financial irregularities case

Fresh troubles are brewing for Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president K. Sudhakaran as the Kozhikode unit of the Kerala Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Department kick-started a fresh inquiry based on a complaint lodged by Prashant Babu, a former associate of Sudhakaran.

The complaint alleged that Sudhakaran amassed wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income. Babu had submitted the complaint to the Vigilance Department in June 2021. Sudhakaran was recently arrested and sent on bail by the Crime Branch of the Kerala Police in a cheating case involving fake antique dealer Monson Mavunkal.

According to the complainant, Sudhakaran allegedly embezzled crores of rupees collected for the K. Karunakaran Memorial Charitable Trust. The money was intended for acquiring Chirakkal Rajas High School. Babu also accused Sudhakaran of defrauding crores of rupees meant for Kannur Edu Park.

During Sudhakaran's tenure as the Kannur District Congress Committee (DCC) president, Babu served as the office secretary. Due to numerous threats and assassination attempt against Sudhakaran, drivers were not ready to work with the leader. According to Babu, that is how he became the veteran leader’s driver. Babu was driving Sudhakaran when the latter narrowly escaped an assassination attempt in Peravoor.

Babu claimed that money is a "weakness" for Sudhakaran and alleged that Sudhakaran was involved in multiple scams during his time as the forests minister in A.K. Antony's cabinet. Babu asserted that he had brought these issues to Antony's attention back then.

Babu also questioned the source of Sudhakaran's income, stating, "Go and check how big Sudhakaran's house is. How did he acquire the funds to build such a grand structure? His source of income needs to be investigated. There was a time when he didn't even have Rs 1,000 to buy diesel for his vehicle. Can a person amass so much wealth in a short tenure as a forest minister? Someone who has engaged in multiple acts of robbery will eventually be caught, and that is what is happening now."

The Vigilance Department is currently examining the assets held in Sudhakaran's wife Smitha's name. They have issued a notice to the principal of Kadachira High School in Kannur, requesting salary and allowance details for Smitha, who had been working as a teacher at the school.

Prashant Babu is scheduled to record his statement with the Vigilance Department on Tuesday. In September 2021, Babu alleged that he was offered Rs 25 lakh to withdraw his complaint. The timing of the new inquiry suggests that the Pinarayi Vijayan government is highly determined to launch significant attacks on the opposition well ahead of the preparatory phase for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.