THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Finance Minister Thomas Isaac has appeared Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan before and explained that if the report submitted by the CAG containing references to KIIFB is final, it is illegal. The minister told the assembly yesterday that he thought it was a draft report and that he assumed that the CAG would seek his opinion ahead of preparing the final report on such an important matter. However, it was only later that he realized that the report was final.

Isaac said that any punishment or procedure stipulated by the Speaker will be accepted. If the notice is left before the Privileges and Ethics Committee, an explanation may be given there. He said the statement was made as part of protecting the rights of the state and the development interests of the people.

The minister gave an explanation for the infringement notice issued by VD Satheesan against the minister in connection with the release of the CAG report before it was tabled in the House

VD Satheesan alleged in his complaint that the Finance Minister leaked the CAG report to the media in violation of the rules. Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala had also written to the Speaker asking him to take this matter seriously. The minister was asked for an explanation as it was a natural procedure to ask him for an explanation in a rights violation notice against a minister.