7 hrs ago
UDF Questions Thiruvananthapuram Attendance Register Amid Forgery Row
A disagreement has started over the record of who attended city council meetings.
UDF leader K S Sabarinadhan questioned whether a register given under an information law had been changed.
He said it listed a March 11 meeting but did not include records for March 5.
CPI(M) councillor S P Deepak separately alleged that a BJP councillor’s signature was forged for several meetings.
Police registered a case naming the mayor, the councillor and the corporation secretary.
The mayor denied the forgery allegation and said photographs showed the councillor at meetings.
The LDF wants the mayor to resign, while the BJP wants the case dropped.
Sabarinadhan said the UDF would ask the government and the State Information Commission to investigate.
UDF leader K S Sabarinadhan questioned whether an RTI-provided attendance register had been manipulated.
He said the register showed a March 11 meeting but lacked records of a March 5 meeting.
CPI(M) councillor S P Deepak alleged BJP councillor K Sugathan’s signature was forged for meetings on February 26, March 11 and April 27.
Police registered a case naming Mayor V V Rajesh, Sugathan and the corporation secretary; Rajesh denied forgery and cited photographs of Sugathan at meetings.
The LDF demanded Rajesh’s resignation, while the BJP called for the case to be withdrawn and pledged to defend the mayor.
- Who
- UDF leader K S Sabarinadhan, CPI(M) councillor S P Deepak, Mayor V V Rajesh and BJP councillor K Sugathan.
- What
- A dispute over alleged signature forgery and possible manipulation of the corporation’s council attendance register.
- Where
- Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Kerala.
- When
- The report is dated October 10; the alleged attendance entries concern meetings on February 26, March 11 and April 27, and Sabarinadhan referred to a June council meeting.
- Why
- The allegations concern whether Sugathan’s signature was forged and whether official attendance records were manipulated; prolonged absence could lead to disqualification, officials said.
Allegations and calls for investigation
Denials and calls to drop the case
Attendance register and alleged forgery
Allegations and calls for investigation
Deepak alleged Sugathan’s signature was forged, while Sabarinadhan questioned whether the RTI-provided register had been manipulated.
Denials and calls to drop the case
Rajesh denied forgery and said photographs showed Sugathan attending the meetings.
Police case and political response
Allegations and calls for investigation
The complaint led to a police case, and the LDF demanded Rajesh’s resignation; the UDF said it would seek an investigation.
Denials and calls to drop the case
The BJP demanded that the case against Rajesh and Sugathan be withdrawn and said it would protect the mayor.
Key facts
- RTI register concern
- Sabarinadhan said page 24 showed a March 11 meeting at 10.30 am, while records of a March 5 meeting were missing.
- Alleged forged entries
- Deepak alleged Sugathan’s signature was forged for meetings on February 26, March 11 and April 27.
- Police case
- Museum police registered a case naming Mayor V V Rajesh, K Sugathan and the corporation secretary.
- Mayor’s response
- Rajesh denied forgery, said photographs showed Sugathan attending meetings and issued Deepak a legal notice.
- UDF response
- Sabarinadhan said the UDF would ask the government and the State Information Commission to investigate.
- Council size and majority
- The corporation has 101 wards; the BJP holds 51 councillors, according to the report.
- Political protests
- The LDF demanded Rajesh’s resignation; the BJP marched to the police station seeking withdrawal of the case.
Quotes
Karamana Jayan
Thiruvananthapuram City District President of the BJP
“How is it that when a complaint regarding a fake document came up, the Museum police immediately registered an FIR? The Museum police station here is currently operating as headquarters for the Congress. BJP is demanding that the case registered against the Mayor of Thiruvananthapuram city must be quashed.”
theprint.in
theprint.in
Sources
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