CPI(M) to initiate legal and political action against clean chit for Kerala CM in Punarjani funds case

Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] Ernakulam district secretary S. Sathish on Friday (July 31, 2026) accused Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan of misusing his power by letting Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala to pronounce a clean chit to him in the alleged corruption charges linked to the ‘Punarjani’ flood rehabilitation scheme implemented in Paravur Assembly constituency.Mr. Sathish said the party will launch both legal and political action against the government decision to close the probe by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) within 70 days of coming into power.He described Mr. Chennithala’s public announcement as “unprecedented” while claiming that no other Chief Minister in the past had permitted a Minister in his Cabinet to announce a clean chit over allegations raised against them.‘Acted in haste’The Home Minister, who launched the Project Zero-‘Vigilance whistle’ campaign against corruption, has acted in haste by absolving Mr. Satheesan of the allegations of violating the provisions of Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) while trying to source foreign funds for the Punarjani project, he alleged.Mr. Sathish claimed that there was evidence to show that Mr. Satheesan had solicited funds from abroad for the Punarjani project and it amounted to violations of the norms prescribed under the FCRA.CMO responseQuoting the findings in the probe conducted by the VACB during the previous Left front government, the Chief Minister’s Office said that the inquiry had revealed that there is no finding that Mr. Satheesan personally accepted any foreign contribution.There is also no finding that the charitable foundation involved in the project falls under any categories specified in Section 3(1) of the FCRA, 2010. Foreign currency transactions were conducted in the foundation’s approved FCRA bank accounts. The Left front government had unleashed a vicious political campaign against Mr. Satheesan as it had used the charitable work to provide houses for the flood-hit families for its political gains, it said. Published - July 31, 2026 06:32 pm IST