Disciplinary action withdrawn; CPM takes back A Shanavas after drug smuggling case row

ALAPPUZHA: The CPM has taken back its former local leader A Shanavas in Alappuzha, who was earlier expelled following allegations in a drug smuggling case. The decision was made by the party’s district secretariat meeting led by Minister Saji Cherian. Shanavas had earlier submitted a request to be re-admitted to the party. However, the decision was delayed due to elections.

Earlier, the party had faced controversy for giving Shanavas a CPM seat in the Alappuzha municipality despite the allegations against him. He had contested as an LDF candidate from the Thondankulangara ward. District secretary R Naser had said that Shanavas was a “good communist.”

The case dates back to January 2023, when banned tobacco products were seized from a lorry owned by Shanavas in Karunagappally. The seizure of goods worth lakhs of rupees led to major political controversy. Shanavas had responded that the lorry had been rented out and that others were responsible for the smuggling. Despite this, he was expelled from the party at the time. He was then an area committee member and the standing committee chairman of the Alappuzha municipality. The action was taken because he had purchased the lorry without informing the party, and it was later used for transporting banned tobacco.

Later, the police gave Shanavas a clean chit. The Special Branch submitted a report to the district police chief stating that there was no evidence against him. The report supported Shanavas' claim that the vehicle had been rented out and that he had no role in the smuggling.