Date:08/06/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/06/08/stories/2005060811390400.htm

Kerala

Manichan case: two IT officials examined

Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Two Income Tax Department officials were examined before Special Judge of the Vigilance Special Court M.S. Mohanachandran here on Tuesday in connection with the Manichan payoffs case.

The former CPI(M) legislator Kadakampally Surendran stands accused of accepting a bribe of Rs. 50,000 from the abkari contractor, Manichan, who was convicted for murder in the Kalluvathukkal liquor tragedy case. Deputy Director of Income Tax Ajith Kumar Verma and Income Tax Officer C.P. Muraleedharan Pillai, both prosecution witnesses, were examined by Special Prosecutor M. Jayachandran Nair.

It was Mr. Verma who carried out raids on the house of Manichan in 1999 and Mr. Pillai on the office of Manichan and his manager, Balachandran, one of the accused.

Mr. Pillai, on his examination, said the noting "C P M" in the 12 documents seized by them during the raid were short form of his name. Mr. Verma said he had informed about the spirit in three vehicles to the police and excise officials in the morning the raid was carried out. The excise and police officials did not turn up till the night. The former Deputy Director of Income Tax Department T.N. Thankamma, who was examined by the prosecution on Monday, had expressed her helplessness in producing documents as she had retired from service. The prosecution on Tuesday filed a petition before the court seeking original documents. Ms. Thankamma had assessed Manichan's income tax returns pertaining to Rs.3.8 crores over a 10-year period.