Ex-Kerala minister Ebrahim Kunju of IUML arrested by vigilance on graft charges

Former Kerala minister and IUML MLA V K Ebrahim Kunju was on Wednesday arrested by Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau in connection with alleged corruption in construction of a flyover here during previous Congress-led UDF rule, official sources said.

vigilance sleuths probing case recorded arrest of former public works department minister at a private hospital here, where he was mitted on Tuesday for treatment of multiple myeloma, a of cancer.

arrest came eight months after he was arraigned as accused in corruption case relating to construction of Palarivattom flyover in city. Vigilance has alleged Kunju sanctioned interest-free funds to contracting company, which h built flyover, w closed after it developed cracks within a year of its inauguration in 2016.

Kunju is second Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) legislator to be arrested this month. On vember 7, police h arrested M C Kamaruddin for allegedly cheating several people who invested in a gold jewellery business. opposition Congress-led UDF, of which IUML is second major partner, condemned arrest of Kunju, which came ahe of crucial local body polls next month.

It alleged arrest was "politically motivated", aimed at diverting people's attention from charges of corruption and irregularities faced by Left front government, ruling CPI(M) said action was a natural process after investigation.

vigilance team held discussions with doctors before reaching hospital room and recording Kunju's arrest.A court here later remanded IUML leer to 14 days judicial custody.However, he will continue to remain at hospital.

Considering his health condition, judge of Vigilance court in Muvattupuzha reached hospital and completed remand process. court is likely to consider on Thursday custody application moved by Vigilance and bail plea of Kunju.

Earlier in day, 10-member vigilance team heed by a DySP reached residence of Kunju in Aluva.When y were informed about his hospitalisation, team with assistance of women police personnel from nearby police station carried out a search at his residence.

Doctors attending former minister are learnt to have said he needs better healthcare as he is in third st of disease which has affected his bones.

Hospital sources said Kunju h been consulting doctors re since April this year for ailment.

Kunju, representing Kalamassery constituency in state assembly, was interrogated multiple times in past by ncy in connection with flyover case.Slamming arrest, Leer of Opposition in Kerala Assembly Ramesh Chennithala alleged Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was indulging in "political revenge" by bringing pressure on Vigilance to target opposition leers.

Referring to arrest of Kamaruddin and Vigilance probe ordered against ar IUML MLA K M Shaji over alleged amassing of disproportionate assets, he said Kunju is third UDF legislator to be "trapped" and se steps were "politically motivated".

senior Congress leer claimed that Kunju did wrong.

He h exercised his discretionary power as minister in ordering mobilisation vance to contractor entrusted with construction of flyover. What is wrong with it?.

Ministers in present government have also recommended sanctioning of mobilisation vances to contractors entrusted with various government projects, Chennithala claimed.

Rallying behind Kunju, former chief minister and senior Congress leer Oommen Chandy and IUML national general secretary P K Kunhalikutty, MP, questioned timing of arrest, alleging it was thing but "politically motivated."

y alleged arrest was aimed at diverting people's attention from corruption and irregularities "committed by Left government."

Defending arrest, ruling LDF convener A Vijayaraghavan said it was a natural process.

ncy h earlier arrested former PWD secretary T O Sooraj, Managing Director of RDS Projects Ltd, which built flyover, Sumit Goyal and main accused M T Thankachan, former ditional general manr of Ros and Bridges Development Corporation of Kerala.

Kunju has dismissed as "politically motivated" charges that he was responsible for poor quality of bridge, built when he was PWD minister in previous UDF government heed by Chandy.

In September this year, Supreme Court h given its d for replacing 750-metre long flyover at Palarivattom here, which was commissioned in October 2016 after CPI (M)-LDF came to power.

Vijayan, who ordered a Vigilance probe into alleged corruption in construction of flyover, h asserted that those involved would t be allowed to go scot-free. 

(IM CREDITS:Twitter/@ebrahimkunjuvk)