MLA MM Mani's gunman to pay Rs 3.59 lakh for illegal stay in IB; KSEB initiates proceedings

KOCHI: A report emerged that M M Mani MLA’s gunman illegally used the Inspection Bungalow of KSEB in Chithirapuram near Munnar for 1,198 days during the former’s tenure as the electricity minister of Kerala. The rent due is Rs. 3,59,400. The Electricity Board has initiated action to recover this from the gunman.

Room number three in the IB was used without paying rent by the MLA's gunman. This was discovered during an inspection conducted by KSEB Vigilance. The vigilance report was also examined by the senior audit officer of the CAG office. The room was allotted on November 26, 2016. The daily rent for the minister's employees is Rs 30. KSEB bore the rent of Rs 37,110 for 1,237 days during Mani's tenure as minister.

However, even after Mani resigned from his ministerial post and became an MLA in the last election, the gunman continued his stay in the same room. The IB records show that the gunman occupied the room except for 12 days out of 1,210 days from May 20, 2021, to September 10, 2024. Rs 300 per day is the normal rate per day for the room, and there is no exemption for the MLA’s employee.

Accordingly, the KSEB has issued an order instructing the Generation Circle Deputy Chief Engineer to collect Rs 3,59,400. The name of the gunman who occupied the room is not mentioned in the order. A notice will be issued to him as part of the proceedings.