Alappuzha: In yet another incident of corruption charges involving BJP leaders in Kerala, it has emerged that a party leader here was threatening people with disrupting construction works unless he was paid a hectic amount.
P. H. Chandran, BJP Aroor panchayat committee secretary, was caught on camera seeking bribe from a woman at Aroor, in a sting operation by Manorama News. Chandran sought Rs 1 lakh as bribe from one Prabhavathiamma of Saraswathi Mandiram after threatening her with disrupting construction works on a plot along Kaithappuzha lake.
Prabhavathiamma claims that the 44-cent plot is her ancestral property. As soon as she built an outer wall on the property, local leaders of the BJP asked her to stop the works, citing that construction on the banks of the lake was illegal. They also threatened to install party flags on the property.
However, Chandran's true color came to light when a Manorama News reporter approached him, feigning to be a relative of Prabhavathiamma.
Talking over phone with the reporter, Chandran promised to settle the issue if the woman was ready to pay him Rs 1 lakh. Following this, Chandran met Prabhavathiamma at her home for further talks. He then agreed to reduce the amount to Rs 90,000 after hectic bargain.
This was caught in a hidden camera by Manorama News.
Asked if other party leaders would object to the works on the plot, Chandran assured that nobody from the BJP would do so. He said other leaders were also aware of his deal with Prabhavathiamma.
BJP leaders, who are yet to overcome the shadow cast by the cash-for-medical-affiliation scam on the state unit of the party, have not reacted to the report.
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