Letter row: Crime Branch in confusion; first stated that letter was fake, now reports that they are unable to confirm authenticity

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: There is confusion in the report submitted by the crime branch to ADGP regarding the letter given by Mayor Arya Rajendran to CPM district secretary Anavoor Nagappan. The crime branch probe team initially stated that the letter was fake, but in the report submitted to crime branch chief yesterday, it is recorded that they were not able to confirm whether the letter was fake or genuine. The probe team submitted the report after the crime branch chief Shaik Darvesh Saheb, who was on leave as part of a trip, returned the other day. The report also states that a case should be registered and a detailed investigation should be conducted.

The crime branch stated that they could not find the original of the letter and only got the screenshot circulating on WhatsApp. The authenticity of the letter cannot be confirmed at this stage. The stance of Crime Branch is that detailed scientific tests should be conducted only in this regard.

According to the report, the mayor's statement is that the letter is fake. On the day the letter is said to have been sent, the mayor was not present in office.

District Secretary Anavoor Nagappan has also stated that he has not received such a letter. Further steps will be taken after discussing with Crime Branch Chief DGP Anil Kant.

Even as the state unit of CPM said that the party did not appoint a commission for enquiry into the letter row, it also came out that the district unit of CPM has appointed a secret commission for investigation. CPM district secretary Anavoor Nagappan has confirmed that a two-member enquiry commission has been appointed.

It is learned that the party has appointed a district committee member and a member of the district secretariat to investigate the incident. The name of the members has not been disclosed as it is confidential.