THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, 7 October 2007 — The opposition Congress in Kerala, led by former Chief Minister Oomen Chandy, has stepped up its demand for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the controversial land purchase by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).
“On the floor of the assembly Achuthanandan had said that since the deal was between ISRO and Savy Mano Mathew, who sold government land, it was the duty of the center to initiate a probe,” Chandy said. “Now that the case has come up in the Kerala High Court and the state government has been asked to state its opinion, Achuthanandan should inform the court that the government wishes for a CBI probe.”
The matter has come up before the Kerala High Court, which has asked the government to file its opinion on CBI probing the case tomorrow.
Speaking to reporters here, Chandy said that a vigilance inquiry announced by Achuthanandan last month would not suffice.
“If Achuthanandan is serious and wants to crack the corrupt deal, he should ask for a CBI probe,” he said.
Achuthanandan will visit the land deal site today along with ISRO Chairman G. Madhavan Nair and top government officials.
ISRO purchased 82 acres of land in Ponmudi, 75 km from here, from Mathew in March. The opposition alleges that the land belongs to the forest department and was sold in connivance with Forest Minister Binoy Viswom who belongs to the Communist Party of India.
