Kozhikode: Muslim Youth League leader P.K. Firoz on Tuesday produced documentary evidence on the ‘illegal’ appointment of D.S. Neelakantan, relative of CPM leader Koliyakode Krishnan Nair, as deputy director of Information Kerala Mission (IKM), on July 24, 2017, putting Higher Education Minister K.T. Jaleel in the dock in another case of favo-uritism.
Mr Firoz released to the media a letter written by CPM leader and Taliparamba MLA James Mathew on December 12 last to the minister for local self- government A.C. Moideen against the illegal appointment of Mr Neelakantan. “The letter substantiates my earlier charge that Mr Jaleel had blackmailed CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan citing the appointment of Neelakantan,” Mr Firoz told reporters.
The letter pointed out that the long-term appointment of Mr Neelakantan with high salary was against the existing norms and rules. Mr Firoz asked Mr Moideen to explain his reluctance in initiating action based on the letter.
Mr James Mathew also alleged in his letter that the appointment had violated the norms. Mr Neelakantan draws a sal-ary of '1 lakh per month with 10 percent increment. The letter urged Mr Moideen to clarify the issue as Mr Neelakantan was appointed against the guidelines framed by the cabinet earlier.
The minister is unable to take action as Mr Neelakantan is close to Mr Kodiyeri Balakrishn-an, Mr Firoz said and challenged the CPM leadership to disprove the points raised by the MLA. He also asked Mr Kodiyeri Balakrishnan to initiate a defamation case against him if the charges were wrong.
Mr Firoz had earlier raised nepotism charges against Mr Jaleel on illegal appointments and also said that Mr Jaleel had blackmailed CPM leaders with evidence on the illegal appointment of their kith and kin.
It was because of Mr Kodiyeri Balakrishnan’s involvement in this appointment that the CPM did not take action against Mr Jaleel for nepotism, Mr Firoz said.
