The opposition leader, Mr V.S. Achuthana- ndan, is yet to respond to the repeated requests by the vigilance and anti-corruption bureau to question him in connection with the probe into the allotment of land to one of his relatives at Kasargod when he was chief minister.

The VACB had sent a letter to the opposition leader earlier this month seeking his convenience on Dec. 15 or any other date to take his statement as part of the preliminary inquiry.

As there was no response, the VACB shot off another letter to Mr Achuthanandan seeking a convenient time between Dec. 19 and 25, except Dec. 22, for taking his statement. However, there was no response from the opposition leader till Tuesday, it is learnt.

The probe relates to the allotment of about 2.30 acres of land in Kasargod district to Mr T.K. Soman, a relative of Mr Achuthanandan and an ex-service man, by the previous CPI(M)-led LDF government led by the latter.

The present Congress-led UDF government had cancelled the allotment citing irregularities. Subsequently a vigilance probe was ordered.

VACB sources said that if there was no response from the opposition leader, they would be going ahead with the information gathered from others involved in the allegations. “By not responding to the request from the investigating officers, the opposition leader is indeed weakening his position,” legal sources pointed out.

On the basis of the findings in the preliminary inquiry, the VACB would take a decision on registering a case and conducting a detailed investigation.