THRIKKAKKARA: Sixteen LDF councillors, including independent councilLor PC Manoop and left councilLor MJ Dixon, have lodged a complaint with the director of vigilance seeking an inquiry into the Onam gift of Rs 10,000 each by chairperson Ajitha Thankappan to councillors in Thrikkakara municipality.

It is alleged that the chairperson summoned the councillors one by one to her cabin on Tuesday and handed over the envelope containing the money. With the incident becoming a controversy, some LDF councilors intervened and returned the money on Tuesday. A section of the UDF also returned the money yesterday.

Only four Left councillors, one Congress councillor and one independent councillor refused to receive the envelope. Thrikkakara has a 43 member council. There are indications that the Left councillors filed a complaint after the party leadership took a tough stand.

The councillors alleged that Ajitha Thankappan gave them Rs 10,000 each along with 'Onakkodi'. They added that the money was given in sealed covers.

Meanwhile, Ajitha Thankappan has denied the allegations. "The news that the councillors were given money as Onam gifts is completely baseless. Onakkodi was handed over to the councillors to be given to the elderly citizens in each ward," she said.