BJP seeks Governor’s intervention in Malayalam university ‘land fraud’

The BJP has sought Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar’s intervention in the alleged corruption in the land deal of Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University.

BJP Palakkad zone general secretary K K Surendran has demanded the Governor’s intervention in the alleged corruption in the Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University land deal. He said on Saturday that Sports Minister V Abdurahiman and former Higher Education Minister K T Jaleel were involved in the university’s land transaction scam.

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The saffron party alleged that the land was purchased for Rs 4,000 to Rs 7,000 per cent and subsequently transferred to the government for Rs 1.7 lakh per cent. The alleged scam involves former Higher Education Minister K T Jaleel and Sports Minister V Abdurahiman. The BJP asserts that the land was acquired through fraudulent means.

Meanwhile, Indian Union Muslim League leader P K Firoz levelled serious corruption allegations against former minister K T Jaleel over the controversial land acquisition for Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University.

Firoz said that Jaleel directly intervened in the acquisition of 11 acres of land for the university, allegedly facilitating the purchase from relatives of Minister V Abdurahiman and persons linked to senior CPI-M leaders. He claimed the land was purchased at inflated prices, causing a massive financial loss to the state exchequer.

“Land that locals had sold earlier for just Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 per cent was later acquired by the government for Rs 1.6 lakh per cent. While the fair market value in the region was around Rs 40,000 per cent, the government paid nearly four times higher, at Rs 1.5 lakh per cent, amounting to over Rs 17 crore for 11 acres,” Firoz alleged.

Firoz further said that the land acquisition was carried out without proper environmental clearance, alleging that large sums of money changed hands.

“Despite the land being acquired six years ago, no construction has taken place because the expert committee classified it as Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) land. The Green Tribunal has also not granted permission for undertaking development activities on the land,” he said.

Firoz further accused Jaleel of personally profiting from the deal.

Meanwhile, former minister K T Jaleel clarified that the decision to acquire land for the Malayalam University was not taken during his tenure as minister.