Thiruvananthapuram: A bribery complaint lodged against the office of Health Minister Veena George has sparked controversy as it appears to prioritize personal staff over earlier complaints.
The complaint, which was submitted weeks ago by a native of Malappuram, was seemingly side-lined in favour of the personal staff's complaint filed by Akhil Mathew, leading to accusations of misconduct and political manipulation.
Akhil Mathew, the accused personal staff member, was summoned to the police station on Wednesday, where a suo moto case was filed against an unknown individual. The move has raised questions about the Health Minister's involvement in potentially protecting her staff member and shifting blame onto the complainant.
Minister Veena George has drawn criticism for her handling of the situation, as she has not only emphasized the importance of condemning those who accept bribes but has also filed a lawsuit with the accused as the plaintiff.
The complainant's initial report was delayed in reaching the Director General of Police (DGP), and the police have yet to review the complaint formally.
The opposition has condemned the Minister's actions, characterizing them as part of a broader pattern of settling cases against party workers. Despite Veena George's promises to take action against corruption without any bias, the complaint received by the registered post on September 13 was only reported to the Chief Minister's office on September 20.
Akhil Sajeev, a former office secretary for the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), and the accused in the initial complaint from a Malappuram native, finds himself without party protection.
This discrepancy has fuelled suspicions that the government is selectively safeguarding specific individuals. Opposition leader V D Satheesan has pointedly questioned the Chief Minister's assertion that village officers should be aware of bribery involving village assistants.