CPM leader Jose Mathew's suicide: Loan taken from party-ruled cooperative bank not the reason, says his son Mathew Jose

ALAPPUZHA: Mathew Jose, son of former CPM local committee member Jose Mathew, has denied the argument that the reason for the suicide of his father was a loan taken from the party-ruled cooperative bank.

"My mother died ten years ago. As I am a driver, I would return only after two or three days once I leave for work. My father had experienced the hardship of loneliness. If he wanted to commit suicide on account of a loan, why did he take Rs. 10 lakh from another bank for agricultural purposes? He used to write letters mentioning this. There is politics behind the controversies," said Mathew Jose.

Jose Mathew was found hanging in his house on Thursday. A letter purportedly prepared by him to the CPM Alappuzha district secretary was circulated shortly after his death. The letter stated that Jose Mathew had taken a mutual surety loan from Eramalloor Urban Bank, where state committee member CB Chandrababu was the president, for adding subscribers to the party newspaper and despite handing over the repayment money to the then local secretary on time, he did not remit the money to the bank.

After receiving the notice from the bank, the local committee decided to join a Chitty and repay the loan. 500 every month could not be paid. In the printed letter addressed to the district secretary, it is said that Jose Mathew received a notice from the court and that he, being a heart patient and a fish farmer, has no other option but to commit suicide in case of property attachment or arrest. However, the letter was not dated or signed.

"Jose Mathew's loan arrears with Eramallur Urban Bank was paid off in 2022. He is a co-surety in another mutual surety loan. No notice was sent to him in respect of that loan

-CB Chandrababu

President, Eramalloor Urban Bank

"Jose Mathew's letter has not been received. His suicide was not due to the loan but probably due to personal reasons

-R.Nasser,

CPM District Secretary