PSC controversy: CPM Kozhikode town area committee recommends action against Pramod Kottooli

Kozhikode: CPM enters fire-fighting mode  as Kozhikode Town area committee has decided to initiate disciplinary action against area committee member Pramod Kottooli in connection with the PSC controversy. The meeting held on Tuesday has recommended action against Pramod, as the committee finds the explanation given by Pramod unsatisfactory. 

It was alleged that, Pramod had received a bribe of Rs. 22 lakh from a doctor of Kozhikode,  promising him a PSC membership. Since no action was taken in connection with the promise, the doctor has come out with a complaint that the young leader had taken a bribe of 22 lakhs and backtracked from his promise of giving PSC membership in return. The doctor also said that Pramod had given him the promise by convincing him about his closeness with PWD minister PA Muhammad Riyas. 

The doctor also complained that, apart from mentioning about his close association with Riyas, Pramod also had mentioned about the names of MLAs Sachin Dev and Thottathil Raveendran.  As the controversy erupted, minister Muhammad Riyas had come out complaining about a ‘secret gang’ operating within the party in Kozhikode. 

CPM state secretary MV Govindan had dismissed the allegations against the party and categorically denied any investigation from the part of CPM regarding the involvement of minister Riyas. It is said that the doctor had raised the complaint even before Lok Sabha elections and the party top leaders have been trying to resolve the issue without causing any damage to the party. 

Meanwhile, Pramod Kottooli has said that he is innocent and not influential enough to offer PSC membership to anybody. “I am a common man and a common worker of CPM. Let the party investigate and take a decision”, he said.