‘Vaidekam’ Ayurveda Resort in Kannur underwent Income Tax examination yesterday, March 2. Seven-member team from Kochi IT took around 10 hours for their examination. ED is likely to examine too.
P.K. Indira, wife of ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) convener and CPM central committee member E.P. Jayarajan (EP), is the chairperson of the resort and herself and her son P.K. Jayson control the business.
The investigation agency has not disclosed anything about their examination. Resort CEO told the media persons that it is nothing but routine checking.
We had carried the controversy arose regarding this resort couple of months before. We had carried media reports that the issue had stirred a hornets’ nest in CPM in Kerala.
Because reports suggested at that point of time that P. Jayarajan, former Kannur district CPM secretary, had raised the issue within the party. P. Jayarajan, E.P. Jayarajan and present Kannur district secretary M.V. Jayarajan are the senior most leaders of CPM in Kannur district, next only to CM Pinarayi Vijayan and present state secretary M.V. Govindan.
No doubt, allegation has created fissures in the party. EP has been skipping all sorts of party meetings since M.V. Govindan took over after the demise of Kodiyeri Balakrishnan; health has been the excuse. He has not yet touched the most publicized Janakeeya Prathirodha Yatra, led by CPM state secretary, even with a bamboo pole. On the other hand, he went to Kochi to felicitate the mother of controversial broker Nandakumar. He even visited a Siva temple, controlled by Nandakumar, in Kochi, and participated in the Prasada oottu (temple feast). These all happened on the day CM Pinarayi Vijayan flagged off state secretary’s Yatra. There falls apart his “health” excuse.
Now, the observers see the intraparty issues behind the situation which led to IT raid. Recently a Kochi-based journalist had filed complaint to the central agencies and it is reported that IT raids are in the light of it. But, EPJ has been denying the allegation that his wife and son have got illegitimate investments in the resort.
Sasthra Sahitya Parishad, an offshoot of CPM, had alleged that twelve years ago the resort was constructed after demolishing a hill. EP’s son Jayson was the chairman of the Resorts to begin with. Later on, he withdrew his shares and accordingly, his mother P.K. Indira took over. It was explained that the investment of Rs 80 lakhs was pooled by adding together the terminal benefits she got when she retired from the cooperative bank and some other monies.
Recently, there were allegations against EP and family of money laundering in connection with the investment in Vaidekam. According to reports, P.K. Indira and Jayson enjoy 9199 shares costing Rs 91.99 lakhs. But former Managing Director K.P. Rameshkumar and his children do have more shares, that is, 9999 shares of Rs 99.99 lakhs. The allegation of money laundering should be viewed in this context. But, the control of the resort, launched under the banner of Kannur Ayurvedic Medical Care Private Limited registered in Kochi, is with EPJ’s family.
Now, the political Kerala is too inquisitive to see what will ED find out and whether EP will participate in the state secretary’s Yatra.
