M.I Shanavaz leading shady deal

ERNAKULAM: In a startling revelation, the ‘Kesari’ weekly has come out with details of a shady deal involving KPCC General Secretary M I Shanawaz. The deal is related to the acquisition of more than 1500 acres of land in Aluva Taluq of Ernakulan district for the proposed BSF station. Though the weekly has not named Shanawaz, all indications point to the KPCC  General Secretary who has got his son-in-law posted as the district collector of Ernakulam.

It was reported that the BSF station was proposed to be set up at the land adjacent to the HMT unit at Kalamassery. But Shanawaz, whose real estate deal is notorious, has purchased thousands of acres of land in Aluva taluk through benami transactions. He has more than a dozen shopping complex in various prime points in Ernakulam city itself. The land acquisition for the BSF station is being done by a village officer who was posted exclusively for this purpose by Shanawaz and his son-in-law. The duo has taken enough precaution in selecting the village officer who is from the same community of Shanawaz.

During the last Lok Sabha election in 2004, it was reported that Shanawaz who was the Congress candidate at Chirayankeezhu constituency went on a fund collection drive and he mobilized more than Rs 100 crore. The truth is that the entire money was diverted to his private coffers at various places since he was aware of his imminent defeat in the election.