Payment seat scandal: HC asks Pannyan Raveendran to produce documents

Kochi: The HIigh Court Wednesday stayed the order of the Lok Ayukta, directing CPI state secretary Pannyan Raveendran to produce documents connected with selection of Bennet Abraham as the CPI candidate from Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha seat in the last election.

Justice A Muhammed Mustaque admitted the writ petition filed by Raveendran, challenging the order and stayed further proceedings.

Raveendran contended that Lok Ayukta had no jurisdiction to pass an order related to the internal issue of a political party and that it was limited to irregularities of public servants.

The case relates to CPI making Abraham, a non-party worker, its nominee in the last election after allegedly receiving funds from him.

In a blow to Left in the state, Abraham came third in the election. Former Union Minister and Congress candidate Shashi Tharoor won the seat and senior BJP leader O Rajagopal capturing second spot.

A committee set up by the party that probed the defeat of Abraham had found lapses in his selection as candidate.

CPI had also initiated disciplinary action against three party functionaries in this matter, two of whom recently quit the party.