Thiruvananthapuram: In the wake of Unitac Builders MD Santhosh Eappen’s volte-face and stating he was unaware of the recipients of the iPhones, Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala demanded an apology from CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan.

While addressing the media here, Chennithala said that Kodiyeri who criticized him in the iPhone controversy should apologise.

“Kodiyeri Balakrishnan tried to crucify me in the iPhone controversy. He should apologise, if not I will move legally against him,” he said.

The Congress leader had earlier stated that he had purchased two iPhones for wife and himself when in Dubai. He repeated that he stands by his statement.

Eappen, in his statement to Vigilance, said that he was not aware of anything about the iPhones other than what gold smuggling accused Swapna Suresh had told him and that he has no clue about who received the iPhones.

Earlier, he had stated in an affidavit submitted at the high court that he gave iPhones as requested by Swapna Suresh and these were distributed to Ramesh Chennithala and others. Chennithala had then sent a legal notice to Eappen demanding to withdraw the statement and apologise to him publicly.

Meanwhile, Chennithala also criticized the Covid control and prevention activities undertaken by state government.

The Opposition Leader also demanded to dissolve the Sangeetha Nataka Akademi in connection with the suicide attempt by actor and dancer R L V Ramakrishnan, brother of late actor Kalabhavan Mani, allegedly after being denied an opportunity to perform at an online event.