THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Haridasan's friend Basith has admitted that he did not give money to the Health Minister's staff Akhil Mathew in the appointment fraud case. Basith told the police that he had told Haridasan that he had connections with the Health Minister's office in order to extort money from Haridasan. Basith also admitted that it was he who had added Akhil Mathew's name in the complaint lodged with the health minister's office.

Basith is the former Malappuram district secretary of the AISF. The remand report submitted by the police against Basith stated that Basith had extorted Rs 1 lakh from Haridasan and hatched a conspiracy. The fraud was committed by promising an appointment to Haridasan's daughter-in-law. The police have also charged Basith with conspiracy.

Haridasan had earlier told the police about Basith's role in the case. Haridasan said that he gave money to Akhil Mathew because of Basith's threats. Basith's present statement confirms this. The police will file a custody application tomorrow for further interrogation. The police also recorded Haridasan's confidential statement today. The police sought legal advice on whether Haridasan should be made a witness or an accused in the case.