Museum Police have registered a case against Thiruvananthapuram mayor V V Rajesh, BJP councillor R Sugathan and the city corporation secretary over allegations that Sugathan’s signature was forged in the corporation council attendance register.
The case followed a complaint by S P Deepak, leader of the LDF parliamentary party in the corporation. The complaint alleged that Sugathan was recorded as having attended council meetings during a period when he was avoiding arrest in connection with a case against him.
According to the complaint, Sugathan, who represents Vazhottukonam, was absent from council meetings held on February 26, March 11 and April 27. His signature was allegedly entered against his name in the attendance register for all three meetings.
Sugathan was arrested by Vattiyoorkavu police on June 9 in connection with a Kerala Anti-social Activities Prevention Act, or Kaapa, case. The LDF alleged that he did not attend several corporation council meetings before his arrest because he was apprehensive of being taken into custody. The complaint claimed that the attendance records were later altered to show his participation.
Museum Police began an inquiry after receiving the complaint and recently visited the corporation headquarters. Investigators examined the attendance register and other records kept in the mayor’s office. Police subsequently registered the case after a preliminary inquiry, with sources cited by The Times of India saying that the inquiry found substance in the allegations.
The case names Rajesh, Sugathan and the corporation secretary as accused. The registration of the case does not establish guilt, and the allegations will have to be examined through the police investigation and any subsequent legal proceedings.
Rajesh has rejected the allegations. In a legal notice sent to Deepak, the mayor described the accusations as baseless and defamatory. He said the claims had harmed his reputation, cast aspersions on the dignity of the corporation, created impediments to its development projects and affected the morale of corporation staff.
The mayor’s notice stated that he had decided to initiate civil and criminal proceedings against Deepak and demanded compensation of Rs 5 crore. It gave Deepak 15 days from receipt of the notice to pay the amount, failing which Rajesh said he would seek recovery through legal proceedings.
Sugathan was released from jail on Tuesday after preventive detention proceedings against him were cancelled. The police case over the attendance register is now pending further investigation.
