Keralam Chief Minister VD Satheesan on Thursday said serious irregularities had come to light in the Keralam Public Service Commission and that action would be taken after the investigation was completed. He said a Crime Branch probe ordered into PSC examinations and appointments to government service under the previous CPI(M)-led LDF regime was looking into very serious allegations.
Addressing reporters in Thiruvananthapuram, Satheesan said, “A serious investigation is taking place in the PSC based on reports that widespread irregularities are happening there. I cannot say much; all the information we have received is shocking. Isn't that why we are conducting an investigation.”
He said it would not be right to comment while the probe was underway Asked about reports that the logbook of the PSC chairman’s official vehicle had not been maintained for two months, he said the matter could be examined. On the ongoing crime branch inquiry, he said, “Let its report come. Without the report coming, without understanding the nature of the report, it is not right for us to say anything. Commenting on it now would be improper.”
Admits to knowing 2 drug cases accused after CPM’s claim
Satheesan said he knew two young men, including a Youth Congress activist, who were arrested with MDMA, but denied allegations that his office had asked Meta to remove reports critical of him.
The issue followed allegations made by Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday of “undeclared social media censorship” over the alleged removal of reports on the arrest, in a drug case in Kasaragod, of a person claiming to be Satheesan's social media coordinator.
Responding to questions at a press conference, Satheesan said he personally knew the two arrested persons, Muhammad Hussain and Abdul Salam. “First, I personally know the two people who were arrested. I personally know Muhammad Hussain and Abdul Salam. Among them, Muhammad Hussain was a Youth Congress activist there,” he said.
Satheesan said he first contacted Hussain after he suffered serious injuries in a police lathicharge in front of MGM School at Kuruppampady in Perumbavoor during the Nava Kerala Sadas led by then Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. He said that later, when he went to attend a programme in Vengola Panchayat, the MLA and local party workers suggested that he should visit Hussain.
“There are photos of me meeting him at his home. After that, he came to meet me three or four times at various places. Every time, we showed him the consideration one naturally extends to someone injured in a police assault,” he said. Satheesan added that neither local party workers nor the public knew at the time about Hussain's alleged links to the drug case. “We only knew when the arrest happened; otherwise, nobody knew about it,” he said.
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