'Anil Antony took Rs 25 lakh bribe'; Dalal Nandakumar back in limelight, raises strong allegation

KOCHI: Making the election cauldron boiling, Dalal TG Nandakumar on Tuesday alleged that Anil Antony, son of Congress veteran AK Antony and the NDA candidate from Pathanamthitta, had once taken a bribe of Rs 25 lakh from him.

According to Nandakumar, Anil took money from him in 2013, after promising to appoint Nandakumar’s friend as the CBI Standing Consul in the Kerala High Court. Nandakumar said that the promise was not kept, but Anil returned the money during the NDA government's time. Nandakumar said both P.T. Thomas and P.J. Kurien knew about the dealings. He threatened to reveal more details of the deal in case Anil denied the allegations.

Meanwhile, Anil Antony outrightly denied the allegation and challenged Nandakumar to reveal more proof of the dealings.

“I have met him two or three times. Nandakumar used to beseech me for some deals. I used to deny this and made it a practice to send him back. Even I blocked his number after having enough of his intrusion. This is a deliberate attempt to taint my image. If P J Kurien and others are aware of the dealings, the media should ask them. The brain behind this move is Anto Antony. I don’t have enough time during the election to choose legal respite” said Anil Antony.