Letter row: Crime Branch registers case on Mayor’s complaint

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Crime Branch has registered a case in connection with Mayor Arya Rajendran’s letter controversy. It is alleged that the Mayor has sent a letter to CPM district secretary Anavoor Nagappan asking for the priority list for temporary vacancies. The case is registered on charges of forgery, falsification of official documents and forgery for purpose of harming one’s reputation. The crime branch registered the FIR on the mayor's complaint. The crime branch registered the FIR on the mayor's complaint.

DGP Anil Kant has ordered to register a case in connection with Mayor Arya Rajendran's letter controversy. The initial investigation of the crime branch could not find out whether the letter was fake or not. The action is on crime branch’s recommendation to register a case and investigate in order to find out. There were reports earlier that the case would be handed over to the local police or the cyber cell to trace the source of the fake letter. However, the DGP has now come to the decision that the crime branch should investigate it further. Reports said the unit of the crime branch that conducted the initial investigation will not further investigate the case.

The crime branch was not able to find the true copy of the letter circulated in the name of Arya Rajendran to CPM district secretary Anavoor Nagappan asking for the priority list for temporary vacancies. It is also suspected that the letter may have been destroyed. Mayor Arya Rajendran said the letter was not drafted by her or her office. Therefore, it can be assumed that the letter is a fake document and so, a case can be filed for fabricating it. However, the main challenge that the investigation team will face is that the investigation will not proceed until they find the original letter and those who circulated it. The high court will consider on Friday the plea seeking a CBI probe on mayor's letter.