Govt to provide fees of Rs 24.50 lakhs to Periya case advocate amid treasury restrictions 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A controversy has erupted over the government's action to allot Rs 24.50 lakh as fees to the lawyer in the Periya case amid treasury restrictions following the severe financial crisis. The law department on Thursday issued an order allotting Rs 24.50 lakh as fees for senior advocate Maninder Singh, who appeared for the government in the Periya case in the Supreme Court. The order was issued based on a letter sent by the Advocate General to the government on February 21. The government has so far spent Rs 88 lakh on fees alone in the Periya case. Lawyers Ranjith Kumar, Maninder Singh and Prabhas Bajaj had appeared for the government in the case.

The government had filed an appeal in the Supreme Court to prevent the CBI probe in the Periya double murder case after the High Court ordered a CBI probe in the case. 21 persons, including former MLA KV Kunhiraman, were named accused in the case. Youth Congress activists Sarath Lal and Kripesh were killed on February 17, 2019.

Treasury restrictions to be extended

Treasury restrictions are likely to be extended in the state. Restrictions were introduced on the passage of bills over Rs 25 lakh in treasuries since Wednesday. There has been no significant improvement in the state's tax revenue after Covid. The state borrowed Rs 3,500 crore in April. More than Rs 4,000 crore is needed to pay salaries and pensions in May. The government estimates that it will have to borrow another Rs 3,000 crore next month.