Thiruvananthapuram: In a letter to the CPM central leadership three years ago demanding reconsideration of the disciplinary actions against three members of his personal staff, then opposition leader V.S. Achuthanandan had accused a section in the CPM state leadership of sabotaging the ice cream parlour case against Muslim League leader and Industry Minister P K Kunhalikutty.
It was no secret that Mr Achuthanandan and the CPM state leadership were not on the same page in some cases he had been fighting, particularly the ice cream parlour case. However in public, the CPM leadership had steered clear of opposing his crusade and even claimed that he was fighting them on party’s behalf.
Though the CPM sources justify the government’s reiteration of the previous UDF government’s position that there was no need for a CBI probe citing technical reasons, the fact is that it has brought out in the open the differences that the party has with the veteran leader in the case. Those close to the veteran leader say counsel for the state government could have kept silent or asked the court for more time.
Incidentally, M.K. Damodaran who as advocate-general had had given the advise that there was no substantial evidence against Mr Kunhaliktty, is currently the legal advisor to the chief minister. As chief minister, Mr Achuthanandan had personally monitored the progress of investigations and had even asked the then DGP and ADGP to share the case diary and other details with the senior counsel engaged by the state government. The ADGP and DGP had refused to comply with the chief minister’s direction and an upset Mr Achuthanandan sought an explanation from the SIT.
