Thrissur Vigilance Court orders case against Chalakudy MLA over alleged bribe demand

The Thrissur Vigilance Court has ordered the registration of a case against Chalakudy MLA Sanish Kumar Joseph and a demand for an investigation into allegations that KPCC general secretary Rajendran Arangath demanded a bribe related to securing title documents for a 17-cent plot of land. The court also ordered to file cases against six government officials in connection with the allegations.

The court heard a complaint filed by Devendran, a native of Thanikkudam, who claimed he was asked to pay money to secure the pattayam, or land title, for a property in Madakkathara village. According to the complaint, Devendran approached Joseph in 2013, then a district panchayat member, seeking assistance in obtaining the title deed for his mother's property.

Initially, Joseph allegedly demanded a bribe of ₹5 lakh, which Devendran refused to pay, after which the demand was allegedly reduced to ₹2 lakh. Regardless, Devendran did not pay the amount. After the title deed was eventually secured, Devendran alleged that he was asked to pay ₹75,000 as a bribe. Rajendran Arangath denied the allegations, claiming the complaint was an attempt to extort money from him and threatening to appeal to the Kerala High Court.

The CPI(M) has also reacted to the allegations, calling for a response from Congress leadership and accusing UDF legislators of falling in standards of corruption.