Thiruvananthapuram: The CPM in Kerala has been drawn into a fresh row after a Chennai-based businessman accused Shyam, son of state party secretary MV Govindan, of leaking a confidential complaint submitted to the Politburo.

Businessman Muhammad Sharshad claimed he had handed over a petition detailing alleged illegal financial dealings involving certain CPM leaders. He alleged that the documents attached to his complaint were later leaked and ended up being used as evidence in a defamation case filed by London-based businessman Rajesh Krishna.

Sharshad alleged that Shyam was responsible for passing the documents to Rajesh, possibly under pressure. He further claimed that his repeated complaints to the party leadership were ignored. He also noted that while Rajesh was initially invited to attend the CPM party congress in Madurai, but was asked to stay away after his allegations.

In his letter to the Politburo, Sharshad accused Rajesh of transferring unaccounted funds to the bank accounts of CPM leaders. Following the alleged leak, Rajesh filed a defamation suit in the Delhi High Court, claiming that false allegations had been circulated against him.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Sharshad said that both the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Income Tax Department are now probing his complaint into the alleged illegal financial transfers from Rajesh Krishna’s accounts. He alleged that Rajesh used his leaked complaint to strengthen his defence in the defamation case, with the involvement of Govindan’s son making it possible.

The issue has drawn a sharp response from the Opposition. Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan demanded a public explanation from Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, accusing the CPM state committee of deliberately covering up Sharshad’s complaint. He insisted that the identities of all CPM leaders allegedly linked to the financial transactions with Rajesh must be revealed. IANS