Palakkad cash-for-vote scandal: Congress releases photo evidence linking Shobha Surendran to accused

PALAKKAD: The Congress party has released new evidence to bolster its allegations that a BJP worker distributed money to voters. Central to this evidence are photographs showing the woman accused of handing out the cash standing alongside BJP leader Shobha Surendran. These images directly challenge Shobha Surendran’s earlier statements to the media, in which she claimed she did not know the woman in question.

Caught on Camera: Who is Simi Rajeev?

The Congress identifies the woman as Simi Rajeev, a Malayali resident of Mumbai. In the released photographs, she is seen with Shobha Surendran at the BJP Palakkad District Committee office, where both women appear on either side of Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Additional images show Simi Rajeev draping a shawl over Shobha Surendran and the two shaking hands.

Shobha Surendran’s defense

Shobha Surendran has dismissed the accusations, describing them as a "pre-prepared script" intended to tarnish her reputation. Her earlier defence stated:

"The allegations against me are entirely false. I do not know the woman who gave the money, and she was never in my car. This is a targeted attempt to hunt me down. A group followed my car, which is why I stopped to speak with them. The woman seen in the footage is not the person who was with me, and her face is not clearly identifiable."

She has also indicated plans to file a formal police complaint regarding the alleged harassment by the group following her.

Counter-claims by Congress workers

Congress workers in Kannadi dispute the leader's claims, asserting that Simi Rajeev has been active in Palakkad since the start of Shobha Surendran’s candidacy. According to their reports, Simi was born in Thiruvananthapuram, raised in Mumbai, and was an active participant in the Kalashakottu (final campaign push). Party workers clarified that they are currently collecting further photographic evidence to substantiate her long-term presence in the campaign.