Narendran Commission exonerates Kuruvilla

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government has accepted the K.K. Narendran Commission report on the allegation that former Public Works Minister T.U. Kuruvilla had misused his official position in a land deal worth Rs.6.75 crore carried out by his children with an NRI businessman.



In the action taken report tabled in the Assembly on Monday, the government said it was accepting the Commission�s finding that there was no evidence for Mr. Kuruvilla�s involvement in the land deal, that NRI businessman K.G. Abraham was bound to comply with the provisions of the agreement with Mr. Kuruvilla�s children and that there was no benami transaction involved in the land deal.



The government also took the position that since the government had already initiated action against officials of the Registration, Survey and Revenue departments for irregularities and since they had approached the High Court seeking legal remedies, there was no need for any further action.



The government, however, rejected the Commission�s observation that Mr. Kuruvilla was not aware of the land deal carried out by his children as it felt that this was against the evidence adduced before the Commission. The matter did not also figure in the terms of reference of the Commission.



Similarly, the Commission�s finding that being a Minister, Mr. Kuruvilla and his family members should have �minimum standard in their dealings with others� and that Mr. Abraham could not be faulted when he said that he was cheated was also outside the Commission�s terms of reference and, therefore, unacceptable, the government said.