Exalogic row: If Vigilance files FIR, Kunhalikutty and Chennithala will be trapped, says AK Balan

Palakkad: Senior CPM leader A.K. Balan has said that UDF leaders Ramesh Chennithala and P.K. Kunhalikutty would be the ones to get trapped if the Vigilance Department registers FIR in connection with the Exalogic company’s alleged involvement in black sand mining. He challenged the government to register a case if it has evidence.

Balan was speaking at a press conference in Palakkad. He said former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his family members had repeatedly approached the courts over similar allegations and proved their innocence.

“The government was in a pickle, unsure whether to move forward or turn back. Finally, it decided to move forward. Meanwhile, the government received legal advice from the Advocate General. The advice was that an FIR could be registered if there was evidence, or a preliminary inquiry could be conducted before registering an FIR,” he said.

“This situation arose after all the documents were submitted to the Advocate General’s office. One thing is clear from this: if an FIR is registered, both ministers will be trapped. If an FIR is not registered, Pinarayi Vijayan’s innocence will be established. Therefore, this is a double-edged sword,” Balan said.

He also questioned the basis for registering a fresh case, saying the Vigilance Department had already examined the allegations during the previous government’s tenure.

“This is an allegation that the Vigilance Department legally examined during the previous government’s tenure. What evidence does the government have to register a new case?” he asked.

Balan also clarified that his meeting with former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was not related to the Exalogic issue, but was held to discuss the problems faced by KSFE employees.