Kannur CPM fund misappropriation: Six party leaders, including Payyannur MLA to receive notices

Kannur: The district committee has decided to send notices to six party workers, including Payyannur MLA TA Madhusoodanan, in connection with the controversy of the misappropriation of funds by the CPM leaders in the Payyannur area committee.

Along with the MLA, the notices will be sent to the former secretary of the Payyannur area committee, KP Madhu, area committee member  T Viswanathan, KK Gangadharan, office secretary Karivellur Karunakaran and MLA’s secretary P Sajesh Kumar. The district committee, scheduled to convene on June 12, will discuss the issue again.

CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, central committee members EP Jayarajan, PK Sreemathy, and KK Shailaja also attended the district committee meeting held to decide on the matter. The investigation commission, including state committee member TV Rajesh and district committee member PV Gopinath had submitted the probe report prior to the meeting held on Wednesday. Though the probe found ignorance and discrepancies in the fundraising, attempts to abate the controversy were evident from the beginning.

The CPM leaders pointed out that grave financial misappropriations had happened in the accounting and auditing of the money. The leadership decided to take stringent actions as it would otherwise lead to skirmishes in the party in Payyannur.

It was alleged that funds collected for helping the family of slain party worker Dhanraj were embezzled. There were also allegations of misappropriation of funds collected for the election campaign and the construction of the party office in Payyannur. The complaint was lodged at the area committee and district committee by a section of CPM activists in Payyannur.