Kochi: Congress legislator Mathew Kuzhalnadan who has been a strident critic of the Left Democratic Front government over its alleged misdeeds is now fending off claims of tax evasion and money laundering arising from a property transaction in the Idukki district.
Now, the MLA, who is a successful lawyer, has been blamed for violating the rules of the Bar Council of Kerala.
A complaint was lodged against the Muvattuppuzha MLA on Saturday for the alleged violation of the bar council rule which states, 'A person enrolled as a lawyer is not permitted to run a commercial enterprise'.
C K Sajeev, an office-bearer of the All-India Lawyers’ Union unit at the Ernakulam District Court, complained to the Kerala Bar Council against Kuzhalnadan for operating a resort in violation of its rules.
The property transaction which has come under a cloud was for the land on which a resort functions.
“Mathew Kuzhalnadan, who has enrolled as a lawyer under K/1609/2001 number, is operating a resort in the name of 'Kappithans Bugalow' in Idukki's Chinnakanal," states Sajeev's complaint.
"It has come to light that Mathew Kuzhalnadan, Tom Sabu and Tony Sabu have received a registration document for 'Kappithans Bungalow' from the Chinnakanal Gram Panchayat. The application for registration mentions that the resort is a partnership project. However, according to the Advocates' Act, 1961, a lawyer is prohibited from operating a commercial establishment as a partner or a single owner," the complaint further states.
A lawyer who has enrolled under Rule 47 of the Act is not permitted to engage in business activities. Kuzhalnadan has not received the resort licence in the name of a partnership firm. Therefore, the Bar Council should take action against him under the category of 'professional misconduct',” the complaint states.
Already, Vigilance has received a complaint over the property deal. It has commenced a preliminary inquiry and is awaiting a report on the resurvey of the land.
As is well-known, the Congress leader has angered the ruling establishment by flagging alleged corruption or violation of norms. The Chief Minister, especially, has been a target of his pointed accusations over a slew of scandals.
