Letter controversy:Crime Branch dismisses Anavoor Nagappan's claims on recording statement

Thiruvananthapuram: The controversy over a letter regarding backdoor appointments allegedly written by Thiruvananthapuram corporation mayor took a new turn with the perplexity surfaced with the latest assertions of CPM district secretary Anavoor Nagappan and Crime Branch. Though Anavoor claimed that he had given his statement to the Crime Branch regarding the letter controversy, the Crime Branch officials discarded this and stated that the investigation team had not received any statement from the CPM district secretary. 

The Crime Branch informed that Anavoor Nagappan had not given his official statement to the team. Whenever the investigation team contacted Anavoor, he stood firm on the stance that he had not seen the letter and had nothing to reveal other than what was said before the media. Hence, the Crime Branch officials are perplexed over recording this unofficial explanation as Anavoor’s official statement or a telephonic statement. 

“Crime Branch had asked for my statement in the letter controversy and I have given it,” Anavoor told the media. 

“Crime Branch will probe the complaint lodged by Mayor Arya Rajendran. It is learnt that Vigilance will also take up the investigation. The High Court has served a notice to the Mayor based on the petition filed by Congress. Meanwhile, BJP has forwarded a complaint to the governor. There is no clue how the governor would examine the matter. As per the current situation, there is no need for the mayor to resign from her post,” opined Anavoor Nagappan. 

When enquired about the party’s internal probe, Anavoor replied that the party has its own way. Action will be taken if the Crime Branch probe finds her guilty, said Anavoor. 

He asserted that he will deliver his statement to any investigation agency and criticised the move to defame the mayor personally.