Thiruvananthapuram:
In a setback to CPI-M veteran V S Achuthanandan, a probe by a Joint Legislature Committee of the Kerala Assembly has found serious irregularities and nepotism in the appointment of his son to a key post when he was the Chief Minister.
The report of the panel, headed by Congress MLA V DSatheesan, was tabled in the state assembly today amidprotests by LDF members who wanted the opposition's dissentingnote to be made part of the report.
Addressing a press meet after tabling the report,Satheesan said the appointment of Achuthanandan's son, V AArun Kumar, as Director of ICT Academy under the state-runtechnical education agency IHRD, involved irregularities,procedural lapses and nepotism.
He said JLC was leaving the follow-up action on thematter to the government as the panel's task was that of afact-finding mission.
The nine-member JLC, which included four LDF legislators,was set up in July last year following allegations thatAchuthanandan as Chief Minister heading the previous LDFgovernment, had bent rules to favour his son.
The charge was then raised in the Assembly by CongressMLA and state Youth Congress president P C Vishunath.
While refuting the allegation, Achuthanandan, who isLeader of the Opposition in the Assembly, dared the rulingCongress-led UDF to institute a probe by a House panel.