Kerala government spent Rs 2.11 cr in Shuhaib and Periya murder cases: CM Vijayan at Assembly

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government has so far spent Rs 2.11 crore in the Shuhaib and Periya double murder cases. The Chief Minister stated in the assembly that Rs 96.34 lakhs was spent in the Shuhaib case and 1.14 crores in the Periya case. Supreme Court lawyers were brought in to block the CBI investigation in these cases.

Of the Rs 96.34 spent in the Shuhaib case, Rs 86.40 lakh were paid as lawyer's fees. Rs 6,64,961 was spent on air travel, hotel accommodation and food for the lawyers. Shuhaib's father CP Muhammad had approached the High Court seeking a CBI probe into the Shuhaib murder case. Senior advocates from outside the state appeared for the government in the High Court and the Supreme Court in this case.

Rs 64.40 lakhs was given to senior advocate Vijay Hansari, who appeared for the government in the High Court, and Rs 22 lakhs to Amarinder Singh. Rs 3.30 lakh was paid to Vijay Hansari and Jayadeep Gupta who appeared in the Supreme Court. Rs ,14,83,132 rupees were spent on lawyers in the Periya case. Rs 88 lakh was paid as fee to the lawyers who appeared in the High Court. Rs 2,33,132 was paid for flight, accommodation and food. Rs 24.5 lakhs was given to Maninder Singh who appeared in the Supreme Court. The Chief Minister said this as a reply to Congress MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan's question.