‘Doubtful about probe against Veena Vijayan, but clean chit difficult’ | Mathew Kuzhalnadan Interview

Kochi: Congress legislator Mathew Kuzhalnadan believes that it would be difficult for Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s daughter Veena Vijayan to get a clean chit in the CMRL payoff case involving her. 

Kuzhalnadan, who has been relentlessly pursuing the allegations against the chief minister’s daughter, said the investigation agencies will be get exposed if they try to save her. The Muvattupuzha MLA made the comments in Onmanorama’s ‘What’s Your Point?’ interview.

However, he repeated the Congress’ apprehensions about the outcome of the central agencies’ investigation into the case. 
“When we evaluate the approach of the central agencies till date with regard to previous incidents or investigations which they were supposed to have carried out we have legitimate reasons to believe that the central government and central agencies may not be truthful in carrying out the investigations. There were more controversial incidents wherein the central agencies could have directly stepped in and caught the concerned but there was always a slow-going or lackadaisical approach. That's why we doubt the outcome,” he said.

Asked if he was expecting a clean chit for Veena, he said: ‘It would be difficult to give a clean chit for sure. If the agencies try to do that they will also get exposed. Apparent violations are there. Fortunately or unfortunately many of the transactions are digital which cannot be removed from the records. The case is proved to a great extent; the only question that remains is whether the law will take due course in booking the accused and punishing them.”

In response to a question on being the bete noire of the chief minister, the Congress MLA said he did not consider the former as an enemy but only as a political opponent. He said he believed he was on the right track in his approach towards CM Vijayan. 

“I have (had) the opportunity to question many illegal actions by the CM and even his family members. As a legislator I feel happy about it because I think I’m on the right track and I’m doing my job as perfectly as possible,” he said.

On the ongoing revenue department inquiry against him over alleged encroachment of 50 cents of land, Kuzhalnadan said he was not bothered about the action and people know that he was being bullied by the government ever since he started raising the allegations against the CM and his family.

He said even if the government takes over the alleged excess land in his possession it would not be a blow for him. “I will absolutely respect the law and whatever happens it won’t be a blow for me.  I can explain my position to the people and they will understand my transparency. They will understand what happened and how it happened,” he said.