Kochi: Shaji Padannilam, the second person accused in the job scam involving Ernakulam district panchayat member Anumol Ayyappan, has absconded with his family. When police arrived at his rented house at Mazhuvannoor shortly after the arrest of the prime accused Anumol Ayyappan, on Wednesday, they found the door locked and no sign of Padannilam and his family.
According to the police, Pothanikkad division member Anumol Ayyappan swindled a total of Rs 4.75 lakh from two people by promising them jobs in Kochi Refineries Ltd (KRL). She had told the victims that Shaji Padannilam would help them get the jobs as he had connections in the petroleum company. The police registered the case on the basis of complaints registered by the victims, Shinju Scaria and Shijo.
Both the accused were members of the Kerala Congress (M) earlier. Ayyappan was elected from Pothanikkad, while Padannilam, a native of Kottayam, was the president of the party’s Kunnathunnad mandalam.
Both were expelled from the party when the job scam broke last January. Ayyappan joined the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) later. Although there were calls for her resignation from the district panchayat, she is yet to resign. She was granted bail by the judicial magistrate on Thursday.
