Letter row: Crime Branch says intention was to defame Mayor, files case

Thiruvananthapuram:  The Crime Branch on Tuesday registered a case to probe the allegation that Mayor Arya Rajendran wrote to CPM District Secretary Anavoor Nagappan asking for the list of party workers to fill 295 temporary appointments in the Corporation.

The case is registered under IPC sections 465 (forgery), 466 (falsification of official documents) and 469 (falsification of documents to disparage one's status). The crime branch registered the FIR on the mayor's complaint.

State Police Chief Amilkanth had directed to take a case and conduct an investigation based on the preliminary investigation report of the crime branch.

According to the FIR, the letter was prepared withthe intention to defame the corporation and tarnish mayor's reputation. 

Mayor Arya was in Delhi from October 30 to November 4 to participate in the party programme. The letter was sent on November 1 by tampering with the mayor's official letterpad, the FIR noted.

The FIR also stated that the letter with fake signature was prepared on official letterpad and circulated on social media. 

Crime Branch DySP Jalil Thott is the investigating officer. 

In its priliminary report, submitted to ADGP Sheikh Darvesh Sahib, the probe agency said it could not ascertain whether the letter was fake or genuine. The original letter has not been found.

The investigation team got only a copy of the letter circulated on WhatsApp. According to the report, the mayor has called the letter fake. On the day the letter was said to have been sent, the mayor was not present in the state capital.