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Binoy Kodiyeri's case settled out of court

After the settlement, the businessman said that cheque cases were common in UAE and the controversy over the issue was needless.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The cheque case filed by a UAE-based businessman against CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrihnan’s son Binoy Kodiyeri has reportedly been settled out of court. According to reports, the case was settled following the payment of 10 lakh dirhams (Rs 1.72 crore) to JAAS Tourism LLC owner Hasan Ismaeel Abdulla Al Marzooqui. After the settlement, the businessman said that cheque cases were common in UAE and the controversy over the issue was needless.

Al Marzooqui said he didn’t visit Kerala recently to address a press conference. The businessman said he had good relations with Malayalis and visited Kerala every year. However, Mr Binoy refuted reports that he had paid 10 lakh dirhams to Al Marzooqui for an out-of-court settlement. The matter was settled without paying the amount as the businessman had withdrawn the case. He said a petition has already been filed in the court to seek removal of travel ban. Once the ban is lifted, he would return to Kerala, he said.

A Dubai court had imposed the travel ban on Mr Binoy earlier this month in the cheating case filed by UAE-based tourism company. Mr Binoy was asked to deposit his passport with the court as per the order issued on February 1. The court had directed that he would be permitted to travel outside Dubai only after depositing 1 million dirhams (nearly Rs 1.72 crore) and legally settling the case. It may be recalled that the case first came in the public domain following media reports that Al Marzooqui had approached CPM politburo to get back the money given to Mr Binoy as loan.

The case had led to huge embarrassment for Mr Balakrishnan ahead of the party state conference to be held in Thrissur from February 22. However, with the case now getting settled, the state secretary will attend the forthcoming conference as a relieved man. Though many questions, especially the source of 10 lakh dirhams arranged for settlement remain unanswered, the controversy appears to have ended at least for now.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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