Balakrishnan’s son-in-law quits Youth Congress, ready for probe (Night lead)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM/KOCHI - Former chief justice of India K.G. Balakrishnan’s son-in-law P.V. Srinijin Wednesday quit the Youth Congress over allegations of amassing illegal wealth and said he was ready to face any probe, even as a court accepted a plea against Balakrishnan’s kin over alleged financial irregularities.

The Youth Congress had earlier announced it would probe how Srinijin, a lawyer by profession, became so wealthy.

“He (Srinijin) has sent his resignation and it has been accepted,” Youth Congress president P.C. Vishnunadh told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram. Srinijin was a Congress candidate in the 2006 assembly polls but he lost.

Meanwhile, the Thrissur Vigilance Court accepted a petition against Srinijin and K.G. Bhaskaran, Balakrishnan’s brother, accusing them of financial irregularities.

Petitioner George Vattukalam filed revenue records of the various properties acquired by the close relatives of Balakrishnan. The next hearing is scheduled for Jan 18.

Srinijin issued a statement in Kochi in the evening and said that he was prepared to face any probe which may be ordered by his party or the government.

“I acquired the property by taking bank loans and both I and my wife are solely responsible for that. It was most unfortunate to link the name of my father-in-law to this and please don’t haunt him,” said Srinijin.

Retired Supreme Court judge V.R. Krishna Iyer questioned the silence of Kerala’s ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) on the issue.

Iyer told reporters in Kochi: “I think it is their (CPI-M’s) duty to speak on this issue. Silence is guilt.”

He said that after news surfaced that Balakrishnan’s relatives had amassed illegal wealth, the CPI-M’s youth wing, Democratic Youth Front of India, came out against Balakrishnan.

But since then, the group had gone silent.

Iyer Dec 27 demanded an investigation to find out how Srinijin acquired so much wealth in just three years.