Singhvi lottery case row continues in Kerala
October 3rd, 2010 - 8:02 pm ICT by IANS
Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 3 (IANS) The Congress and Kerala’s ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Sunday continued trading charges over Congress spokesman and lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi defending a lottery distributor accused of irregularities even though he has since withdrawn from the case.
Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan alleged that Singhvi came with the full knowledge of Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
“Singhvi came with the full knowledge of Sonia Gandhi, if not by now action would have been taken against him. The Congress is playing a double game, on the one hand they say they are against (illegal) lottery, on the other hand they support the lottery mafia,” Balakrishnan told reporters.
However, state Congress president Ramesh Chennithala maintained that they wanted strong action against Singhvi.
“We have already asked the high command to see that strong action be taken against Singhvi. The Congress party here is of the opinion that it was wrong on the part of Singhvi to appear in this case,” Chennithala told reporters in Pathanamthitta.
Singhvi appeared for Megha Distributors - an agent for lotteries of Sikkim and Bhutan - in the court Wednesday and Thursday. But on Thursday, Singhvi announced that he was withdrawing from the case.
Singhvi’s decision to represent Megha Distributors had upset Congress members who alleged that the accused firm’s owner was linked to the rival CPI-M, which heads the ruling front in the state.
The CPI-M pointed to Singhvi’s appearance in court and attacked the Congress, alleging that it was linked to the lottery mafia.
Ahead of the local bodies poll scheduled for Oct 23 and Oct 25, the Congress in Kerala has been vigorously campaigning against the “illegal” Sikkim and Bhutan lotteries whose tickets are sold in the state, alleging that the CPI-M-led state government was helping Megha Distributors.
The opposition alleges that the lotteries from other states are sold without any checks on the number of tickets sold, the draws announced and the sales tax they are required to pay.
- Singhvi withdraws from Kerala lottery case - Sep 30, 2010
- Singhvi defends Kerala lottery distributor, Congress complains (Second Lead) - Sep 29, 2010
- Congress takes 'serious note' of Singhvi fighting lottery case - Oct 04, 2010
- Singhvi defends Kerala lottery distributor, upsets Congress (Lead) - Sep 29, 2010
- Congress MPs write to Sonia, seek action against Singhvi - Oct 06, 2010
- Congress stops Singhvi from addressing media - Oct 06, 2010
- Singhvi likely to face disciplinary action - Oct 05, 2010
- Kerala Lottery Case: Singhvi withdraws - Sep 30, 2010
- Court orders fraud case against Kerala lottery dealer - Nov 06, 2010
- Lottery case: Kerala to approach Supreme Court - Oct 20, 2010
- After Singhvi, Congress targets Tamil Nadu advocate general - Oct 05, 2010
- Kerala Police to arrest 'lottery king' soon - Nov 22, 2010
- CBI files case against lottery dealers in Kerala - Aug 06, 2011
- Lottery case: Kerala unhappy over Tamil Nadu advocate general - Oct 06, 2010
- Kerala lottery scam being politicised: Karat - Jan 17, 2011
Tags: communist party of india, communist party of india marxist, congress members, congress party, congress president sonia gandhi, congress spokesman, CPI, double game, home minister, irregularities, lotteries, mafia, manu, megha, ramesh chennithala, ruling communist party, sikkim, state congress, state government, thiruvananthapuram