THRISSUR: On Wednesday, BJP state president K Surendran appeared before the special investigation team (SIT) for questioning in the highway heist case. Surendran was summoned following reports that the complainant in the case, Dharmarajan, had contacted him several times in relation to this case.
But, Surendran alleged that BJP had no links with the money that was looted and claimed that this was a politically-motivated investigation. “Police are enacting these dramas to appease their political masters. Investigation is going in a strange direction. Investigators are tracking and questioning people based on the call list of the complainant, whereas they are not chasing those in the contact list of the accused who had looted the money,” he alleged.
Talking to reporters after questioning, Surendran said police were undecided on the clarification they wanted from him. “BJP has no connection with the case though the government is trying to fabricate a link. The intention is to malign the party. I have been saying this right from the beginning. Let police establish that the money that was looted was meant for BJP, we have no objection. We are sure police will not be able to establish such a link,” he added.
But, the report submitted by police in Irinjalakuda court, said that Dharmarajan had disclosed that the looted money belonged to BJP.
Police had made elaborate arrangements in the city to avert protests by BJP workers when Surendran appeared for questioning. Several leaders, party men had assembled near the police club where Surendran was questioned for around 90 minutes.
On April 3, money that was transported in a car allegedly for election work of the party was looted at Kodakara. Goons intercepted the car by faking an accident. SIT, led by Thrissur DIG A Akbar had questioned Surendran’s secretary Dipin and his driver Ledheesh on June 5. The team also questioned several BJP leaders including state organizing secretary M Ganesh, state office secretary Girish, Alappuzha treasurer KG Kartha, Thrissur unit president Advocate KK Aneeshkumar and central region secretary L Padmakumar.
SIT arrested 20 accused in the looting case. The initial complaint was that only Rs 25 lakh was looted from the car. Later Dharmarajan, who claimed that he had sent the money, admitted that Rs 3.5 crore was looted.
