Kannur CPM under fire as cadre allege lakhs scammed for 'ghost' college

Iritty (Kerala): Local leaders of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Kannur are facing fresh, serious allegations of financial misappropriation. A complaint alleges that party leaders formed an entity named the North Malabar Educational Society in Iritty, raised lakhs of rupees alongside land donations from investors under the pretext of constructing a college, and subsequently defrauded them. The society is managed by local CPM office-bearers, with party members and local cadre themselves coming forward with documentary evidence against their leadership.

The initiative originated from concerns over Pragati, a parallel tutorial college operating in Iritty under the leadership of Hindu Aikya Vedi leader Valsan Thillankeri. Fearing that students attending Pragati might lean towards Hindutva ideology, local CPM leadership conceived the idea of establishing a college under party control in the hilly belt. Consequently, CPM leaders established the North Malabar Educational Society in 2015.

Promising the establishment of a fully approved self-financing college, the society launched a massive share collection drive. Shares categorised under A, B, C, D and E tiers – ranging from ₹1,00,000, ₹50,000 and ₹25,000 down to ₹1,000- were sold to grassroots party workers. Available records indicate that substantial funds were collected across more than 6,000 receipts.

Although a grand launch of the society took place in Iritty in 2017, no subsequent steps were taken to establish the college. Over nine years after the project was initiated in 2015, construction remains uncompleted and inactive.

This delay prompted ordinary party workers who invested in the scheme to demand answers, insisting that the society either operationalise the college or return their capital. While office-bearers informally claim that land was acquired in the society's name, they have failed to identify the property or provide proof of purchase to investors.

Affected investors, including former CPM local committee member Thomas Joseph, have publicly challenged the leadership. Joseph stated that despite depositing ₹25,000 as share value in 2016 and receiving a share certificate, he received no further updates. Investors dismiss claims regarding land acquisition as mere excuses designed to evade accountability. A detailed complaint bearing the signatures of over 1,000 affected individuals, alongside copies of share certificates and supporting evidence, has been formally submitted to the CPM party leadership.

In response, the CPM leadership stated that the funds collected from the public remain secure. The party maintains that the society holds land equal to or exceeding the total value of the collected capital. However, investors maintain that the leadership is obligated to present clear title documents and location details for the land.