THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Former minister KT Jaleel has responded to the allegations levelled against him by Swapna Suresh. Jaleel said that Swapna was dragging Madhava Warrier into the controversy due to his dispute with HRDS. Jaleel said that he had known Thirunavaya native Madhava Warrier, a Mumbai-based businessman, for some time.

"I have known Madhava Warrier for quite some time. Although we share a friendship, there is nothing beyond that. He runs a Balamandiram Warrier foundation. I used to go there to attend various functions. Samadani MP, Wahab MP and Suresh Gopi MP have also attended functions there. I don't have any financial transactions with Madhava Warrier," Jaleel wrote on Facebook. Earlier, Swapna Suresh had alleged that Madhava Warrier was a benami of Jaleel.

Jaleel also responded to allegations that it was he who took the initiative to give D-Lit to the Sultan of Sharjah. 'In 2014, Calicut University decided to award D-Lit to the Sultan of Sharjah, a scholar, author and father of the Sharjah International Book Festival. PK Abdu Rabb was the Education Minister at that time. The then Vice-Chancellor Dr Abdul Salam, who was appointed by the UDF to take the decision, is now in the BJP. Those who have doubts can ask him and clear their doubts,' Jaleel wrote.