Thiruvananthapuram: Following allegations against Minister KB Ganesh Kumar, a fresh controversy has surfaced involving Midnight Sun Global, a company where his wife Bindu Menon serves as CEO. The company has been accused of receiving overseas distribution rights for products of Milma and Kerafed without any tender process or expression of interest being invited. Critics allege that the deal was secured due to high-level pressure because the firm is owned by the minister’s wife.

Midnight Sun Global is currently distributing Kerafed’s “Kera” brand coconut oil in Dubai, and Milma products in New Zealand and Australia. The allegation is that these distribution rights were granted without inviting tenders or expressions of interest. It is also claimed that despite senior officials raising objections, the contract was awarded under pressure from higher authorities.

The company’s registered address is listed as Minister Ganesh Kumar’s residence in Kudappanakunnu, Thiruvananthapuram (Sindagi, KRAA 144). Although the address mentions Bindu Ganesh Kumar, the company’s website does not clearly specify her role in the firm. .

Milma Chairman KS Mani said that even before Ganesh Kumar became a minister, Midnight Sun Global had been distributing ghee and dairy products in the Malabar region for over 3 years. He added that the overseas distribution was granted after the company expressed interest. According to him, there is no need to invite tenders when assigning distributors to explore new markets in places where no distributors currently exist.

It is also reported that the coconut oil purchased by Midnight Sun Global from Kerafed at concessional rates is being sold in Dubai through another company. Agriculture Department officials, however, said there was no violation of rules in granting distribution rights to a company in Dubai, where Kerafed products had lacked distributors for years.