In a significant development within the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Kerala, serious allegations of financial irregularities have surfaced, casting a shadow over party leadership in the Kannur district. V Kunhikrishnan, a member of the CPM Kannur district committee, has publicly accused senior party leaders, particularly Payyannur MLA T I Madhusoodanan, of misappropriating substantial funds intended for a martyred party worker's family and election campaigns.
Allegations of Misused Martyr's Fund
During a detailed interview with a prominent news channel, Kunhikrishnan revealed troubling details about the alleged mishandling of approximately Rs 46 lakh. This amount was reportedly diverted from a special fund established by the party to support the family of C V Dhanraj, a dedicated CPM worker who was tragically hacked to death in July 2016 in Payyannur. The incident, which allegedly involved a group associated with BJP-RSS workers, had prompted the party to initiate a fundraising drive to assist Dhanraj's bereaved family.
Questionable Financial Transactions
Kunhikrishnan, who previously served as the CPM Payyannur area secretary, provided specific financial breakdowns that raised serious concerns. According to his investigation, the party had successfully collected an impressive Rs 1 crore for the martyr's fund created in Dhanraj's memory. The original plan, as unanimously decided, was to construct a proper house for Dhanraj's family and deposit any remaining balance directly into their bank account for long-term security.
"The fundraising activities commenced in 2016 while Madhusoodanan was serving as the area secretary," explained Kunhikrishnan. "However, when I assumed the role of party area secretary in 2020, I was entrusted with presenting a comprehensive report about this fund at the party conference in 2021. While preparing this report, I meticulously examined all financial records and discovered several irregularities that demanded immediate attention."
Detailed Financial Discrepancies
The examination of financial documents revealed particularly concerning transactions:
- More than Rs 34 lakh was reportedly spent on constructing the house for Dhanraj's family
- Within this amount, Rs 29.25 lakh was transferred to the contractor responsible for the construction
- An additional Rs 5 lakh was allegedly moved to the personal account of the area secretary
- Another Rs 40 lakh from the martyr's fund was utilized for constructing the party area committee office
Kunhikrishnan emphasized the questionable nature of using martyr's fund resources for party office construction, especially since separate funds had already been collected specifically from party workers for this purpose. "There was absolutely no justification for dipping into the martyr's fund for party office construction when dedicated collections had already been made for that exact purpose," he asserted.
Lack of Internal Action
The CPM leader further disclosed that he had formally reported these financial irregularities to the party district committee, providing what he described as substantial evidence to support his claims. "Despite submitting detailed documentation, the party failed to take appropriate corrective measures," Kunhikrishnan stated. "I subsequently escalated the matter to higher authorities including then party state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and current party secretary M V Govindan. Even Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was made aware of these fraudulent activities, yet no meaningful action followed."
Party's Official Response
In response to these serious allegations, the CPM district committee has issued a firm denial. District secretary K K Ragesh categorically rejected the claims, stating that the party had already conducted thorough examinations of these allegations and found them completely baseless. "There has been absolutely no misuse of funds from either the martyr's fund or the party's election fund," Ragesh declared, attempting to reassure party members and the public about the integrity of their financial management.
This controversy emerges at a sensitive time for the CPM in Kerala, potentially affecting internal party dynamics and public perception. The allegations highlight ongoing concerns about financial transparency within political organizations and the proper utilization of funds collected for humanitarian purposes. As both sides maintain their positions, the situation continues to develop, with potential implications for party discipline and accountability mechanisms.
