Former Kerala minister sees plot by Potti to tarnish his political image

Thiruvananthapuram: Former Devaswom minister and MLA Kadakampally Surendran on Thursday dismissed as a conspiracy the allegations raised by Unnikrishnan Potti, prime accused in the Sabarimala gold theft case.

Speaking to reporters, Surendran said he had not visited any police station in the past 10 years and had never intervened in anyone’s financial disputes. His remarks came after claims that Potti had alleged an attempt by Surendran to implicate him in a land-grab case.

Land-grab allegation examined by SIT

After Potti secured bail in the Sabarimala gold theft case, a woman from Kazhakkoottam approached the Special Investigation Team (SIT) alleging that Potti had attempted to grab her land.

She claimed that in 2017 Potti had cheated her by purchasing land from her at a lower price. The SIT subsequently began examining the allegation.

Potti, however, alleged that the woman had been made to file the complaint by Surendran in order to implicate him. According to Potti, the issue had earlier been settled at the Thumba police station in Surendran’s presence. 

Surendran denies any link to complaint

Surendran said he came to know through reports that Potti had alleged that he and a woman named Prathiba had conspired to lodge the complaint before the SIT.

“From the reports I understood that a woman named Prathiba and I allegedly conspired to lodge a complaint against Potti before the SIT. I have no idea who this Prathiba is, despite thinking about it repeatedly. I do not remember intervening in the financial matters of any such woman in my life,” he said.

According to Surendran, Potti had claimed that in 2024 people involved in a financial dispute with Prathiba were called to the Thumba police station and that a settlement was reached under his mediation.

Surendran said he later inquired about the matter and learned that the woman had run a school at Attinkuzhi near Kulathoor in his constituency, close to the house of the uncle of MLA V K Prasanth.

‘Have not visited any police station in 10 years’

Surendran maintained that he had not gone to any police station in the past 10 years.

“In the past 10 years, I have not gone to any police station. I have not gone to Thumba police station, or to any police station anywhere in Kerala. The only time I went there was to unveil the plaque during the inauguration of the Thumba police station building as the local MLA,” he said.

He added that he had never intervened in anyone’s financial matters.

Surendran said he also contacted the Thumba police station to verify whether such mediation had taken place.

“They also do not remember any such incident. They said no such event took place in 2024,” he said.

Surendran said he could not understand why Potti had made what he described as a false allegation.

“Even after thinking a lot, I cannot understand why Potti filed a false complaint. Recently, one or two opinion polls conducted by channels showed the LDF and me having an advantage. In that context, I can only see Potti’s complaint as part of a conspiracy by some of our friends to defame me. You will understand who might be behind making Potti file a false complaint. For now, I do not wish to name them. If the situation arises, I will certainly say it,” Surendran added.