Actress assault: Parties demand CBI probe into 'conspiracy'

Even though Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan u-turn on Sunday and blamed the media for 'misinterpreting' his statement that dismissed the conspiracy angle in the abduction of a famous actress, the opposition parties are not ready to leave it at that. The Congress reiterated its demand for a CBI probe in the case alleging that the Chief Minister, who is also holding the Home portfolio, was meddling with the investigation. The BJP also termed the investigation by state police a 'farce' and demanded CBI probe or a court-monitored inquiry. 

"It seems someone doesn't want the real facts behind the incident to come out," said KPCC president VM Sudheeran. It is now clear that there is a conspiracy to wrap up the case without going to the real people behind, he said. 

Chief Minister was forced to swallow his no-conspiracy statement owing to public pressure, the Congress leader said. The hands of the investigation team are tied. The Chief Minister is pressurising the investigators. Hence, the case should be handed over to the CBI, Sudheeran said. 

Chief Minister's statement amounts to giving direction to the investigating team not to dig much into the conspiracy. "This is a farce. Only an agency other than state police can bring out the facts," BJP state president Kummanam Rajashekharan said demanding a CBI inquiry. 

Meanwhile, it also brought out the fact that the BJP leadership has not come to a unanimous decision on what kind of probe should be demanded in the case. Just after the state president of the party demanded CBI probe, former state president of the party  V Muraleedharan wanted either a CBI probe or a court-monitored investigation. Meanwhile,  BJP national executive member Sobha Surendran was for a 'thorough probe.'

The Chief Minister's statement also created a furore in the State Assembly. MLAs of the opposition stormed into the well and raised slogans against the government after the Speaker denied an adjournment motion on the subject. Replying to an adjournment motion in the House, Pinarayi Vijayan once again clarified that the government had not taken a stand that there was no conspiracy in the state. The investigation will consider all the possibilities, including conspiracy. 

• Actress Abduction
• Congress
• BJP
• Pinarayi Vijayan