THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The CCTV footage of the secretariat will be crucial in proving the allegation of bribery for the appointment of homeopathic doctor in Ayush Mission. The Cantonment Police has applied to check the footage for this purpose.

Police are examining the scientific evidence because Haridasan, a native of Malappuram, said that Akhil Mathew, the personal assistant of Health Minister Veena George, took a bribe of 1 lakh rupees at the secretariat premises and Akhil Mathew said that he was attending a wedding ceremony in Pathanamthitta on that day.

On checking the tower location, it was found that Haridasan was in Thiruvananthapuram on April 10, the day the bribe was paid according to the statement. However, on April 10 and 11, Akhil Mathew was in the Pathanamthitta tower location. Considering this, the police say that the statement that Akhil was paid a bribe may not be true. It is possible that someone else has impersonated Akhil Mathew. CCTV footage is being checked to throw light on this.

Police say Haridasan's claim that he waited at the secretariat on April 9 to hand over the money to Akhil Mathew is false. April 9 was the Easter holiday. No one was allowed inside as the secretariat was not functioning. Therefore, the investigation will be about the events that took place on April 10.

The investigation is in a fraud case registered by the Cantonment Police on the complaint of Akhil Mathew. Akhil Mathew's complaint is that someone else took money on his behalf and did a scam.