Southern States - Kerala

Crime Branch questions Surya TV staff

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM June 27. <150>A Crime Branch police team probing the bonafides of the ``police intelligence document'' that reported the alleged involvement of the Fisheries Minister, K.V. Thomas, in a Rs. 336 crore hawala transaction during 1999-2000 today questioned two top functionaries of the Surya TV channel which first reported the existence of such a document.

The questioning at the regional office of the news channel in the city on Thursday afternoon sparked off a furore with scores of journalists and more than 20 Opposition MLAs staging a protest outside the Surya TV office.

A Crime Branch team, led by two Dy.S.Ps and a Circle Inspector, arrived at the Surya TV office at around 2 p.m. They questioned the general manager, C. Praveen, and the Chief News Editor, N. Sukumaran, about telecast of a report claiming that the channel was in possession of a police intelligence document that suggested the involvement of Mr. Thomas in the hawala scam.

The Opposition MLAs led by Kodiyeri Balakrishnan of the CPI (M) and Mr. P. C. George (Kerala Congress — Joseph) demanded that the policemen leave the office. With the protest gathering strength, the officials left. Later, the MLAs and journalists staged a protest march to the Secretariat.

In a press release, the Surya Television management alleged that the Crime Branch had raided and ransacked its regional office. The news editor and general manager was made to sign documents forcibly. The news room functioning was disrupted and crucial documents pertaining to scam were taken away.

The IG (Crime Branch), Mr. Mahesh Kumar Singhla, denied the allegations. He said there was no raid and no documents or cassettes were seized.

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