Sting operation: Police records statement of Raghavan

Sting operation: Police records statement of Raghavan

As part of investigating the controversial revelations allegedly made by sitting MP and Congress Candidate from Kozhikode Lok Sabha constituency M K Raghavan in a sting operation by a Hindi TV channel last week, the police had on Monday recorded his statement.

There are two complaints before the City Police Commissioner – one filed by the Left Democratic Front demanding investigation and the other filed by Mr Raghavan seeking a probe into the conspiracy behind the episode, which according to the Congress-led United Democratic Front, it was ‘fabricated’ and aimed at defaming their candidate.

The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) leader Muhammed Riyaz on Saturday had filed a complaint to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sunil Arora demanding an inquiry into the issue.

The Hindi channel on last Wednesday had broadcasted an undercover programme that exposed Mr Raghavan revealing that he spent huge amount of money in 2014 Lok Sabha election and demanding Rs 5 crore for facilitating a land for a Singapore-based realty company.

The channel reporters is reported to have approached the MP in disguise as representatives of the realty company for planning a hotel project in Kozhikode.

Earlier the CPI(M) Kerala State Secretary Mr Kodiyeri Balakrishnan had also demanded an inquiry into the issue of violation of Election Commission’s directives on spending expenditure in the elections.

Mr Raghavan however had refuted the allegations and flayed the local CPI(M) leaders for conspiring aimed at defaming him. The CPI(M) district committee was quick to challenge this and said the party had nothing to do with the sting operation. The party is likely to move the court for filing defamation against Mr Raghavan.