Kerala CPI-M leader's son says financial deal with Dubai firm is 'clear'

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 15 : In relief to Kerala CPI-M state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, his son Binoy Balakrishan on Thursday told the media here that his financial dealings with a Middle East resident are in the clear.

Trouble started for Binoy and Kodiyeri when a three-page letter dated January 5 from H.I.A. Al Marzooqi, sponsor of a Dubai-based company, was made available last month to the media, stating that he had started legal proceedings against Binoy for alleged fraud of Rs 13 crore.

However, things changed fast after Marzooqi filed a petition against Binoy over a cheque dishonour, to the tune of Rs 1.72 crore and a travel ban was imposed on Binoy in Dubai.

Speaking to a TV channel from Dubai on Thursday evening, Binoy said that the controversy arose because of a "misunderstanding".

"Al-Marzooqi is a nice gentleman and he was not aware of what exactly was the issue. When he was told of what happened, he agreed to withdraw the case. And since tomorrow is a holiday here, I will file a new application to lift the travel ban. Moreover I also have a few programmes here," said Binoy.

With the opposition Congress and the BJP taking it up both inside and outside the assembly, the issue has been raging for the past few weeks causing a huge dent in the image of both the CPI-M and Kodiyeri.

It even saw party general secretary Sitaram Yechury coming under fire from the Kerala unit of the party over the manner in which the issue surfaced in the media.

The latest development would come as a huge relief for Kodiyeri, as he is all set to get a second three-year term at the helm of the state unit of the ruling CPI-M as the upcoming state party conference is to be held at Thrissur from February 22-25.