Veena George: Allegations of bribery against the personal staff of Kerala Minister, Congress said- the matter should be investigated

An allegation of bribery has come to light against a personal staff of Kerala Health Minister Veena George. After which the opposition Congress demanded an investigation.

Haridasan, a resident of Malappuram district, on Wednesday, alleged that a personal staff member of the minister took a bribe of Rs 1 lakh for the appointment of his daughter-in-law as a government medical officer.

A former office secretary of CITU, the CPI(M) trade union branch in Pathanamthitta, who allegedly acted as a middleman, also took a bribe for the said appointment, he claimed and also involved his daughter-in-law in it. However, did not get the job.

Haridasan also released some alleged evidence of money transactions between himself and the minister's staff member through the media.

Later, he said that officials of the special branch of the state police had recorded his statement.

They asked for details from me and took my statements,” Haridasan told the media. I gave them all the information and shared a photocopy of the evidence I had.

Rejecting the allegations, the Health Minister's office said that a complaint has been sent to the DGP for a detailed investigation into the matter.

Minister Veena George also strongly opposed this and said that based on the complaint received, she has sought clarification from the accused private staff member.

He also said that after receiving the complaint, he never tried to hide it.

When I received such a complaint as a minister, the first thing I did was...to seek clarification from my staff member against whom the allegation was made, he told reporters in Kannur. This was part of the investigation that I conducted in my office regarding this issue.

George said he has forwarded the Malappuram man's complaint to the police for a comprehensive investigation into the matter and has directed his personal staff member to lodge a police complaint given the allegations against him.

He said that the truth behind the allegations should come out.

Terming the allegations of bribery against the personal staff of the Health Minister as "serious", the opposition Congress said corruption is thriving in all government departments in the state.

Leader of Opposition in the Assembly V D Satheesan said the allegation that a personal staff member of the minister took a bribe for the appointment was "shocking".

He said the complaint was made against the minister's personal staff member Akhil Mathew and Pathanamthitta CPI(M) leader Akhil Sajeev.

Although the complainant had sent the complaint to the minister's office through email on September 4 and through registered post on September 13, it was handed over to the police only after 10 days.

“This was a serious mistake,” he said.

LOP asked whether the minister was not aware of anything happening in his office? During this, he also demanded that it should also be investigated whether bribery was involved in other appointments made under the Health Department?

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the private secretary and staff of the Health Minister, who is facing allegations, has himself filed separate police complaints in this regard.

He said that based on the complaint of Akhil Mathew, the Cantt Police has registered a case under sections 419 and 420 (cheating) of the IPC, seeking a detailed investigation into the allegations against him.

"Wait until the police bring out the truth based on scientific evidence," the CM said.