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Congress legislator accused in forged document case

Shobhana, a member of the Karunakaran camp, is listed as the third accused in the report filed by the crime branch of the state police before Chief Judicial Magistrate N M Jose after the arrest and remand of her personal assistant, Anil P Srirangam.

Surya TV journalist Anil Nambiar, who had done a report in June based on the allegedly forged document sent by the director general of police (intelligence) to the chief minister's office, has been retained as the first accused. R Jayachandran, a close aide of Shobhana, is the fourth accused.

The alleged forgery linked Thomas with the Rs 336 crore inter-state havala racket probed by central agencies.

After denying the genuineness of the document, the A K Antony government entrusted the case to a special team of the crime branch.

Nambiar, who was listed as the sole accused in the first information report, was arrested and released on bail in August.

Srirangam was picked up from Shobhana's residence on Sunday. He was produced before the chief judicial magistrate on Monday morning after several hours of grilling by the crime branch team and remanded to judicial custody.

Suspecting Shobhana's involvement, the investigators had asked her to undergo a polygraph test, but she refused. She alleged that the whole 'drama' was part of a move to mar her political career.

Shobhana had recently lashed out at Chief Minister Antony, demanding that he give up the home portfolio. She alleged that the investigation of the case was not moving in the right direction.

The forged document case has turned out to be one of the most sensational in Kerala with all the trappings of political intrigue. The probe team has questioned several persons, including businessmen and journalists, over the last three months.

PTI

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