KOCHI: A man has lodged a complaint alleging that a group including CPI Ernakulam former district secretary P Raju, who was demoted to the branch committee for financial irregularities, swindled Rs 45 lakhs from him after making him a partner in their vegetable business. The complaint given by Kodungallur Ahmed Razeen to the Kochi City Police Commissioner has been handed over to the Palarivattom Police. The police have not yet registered a case. According to the complaint, the fraud was committed by Raju, driver NM Dhanish, Vithul Shankar and CV Sai.

According to the complaint, Raju and group committed the fraud by claiming that they had influence over Horticorp as the CPI was ruling the Department of Agriculture and that they could reap huge profits by bringing vegetables from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and selling them to Horticorp. The complainant said that he met Raju at the CPI office in July 2021 while Raju was CPI Ernakulam district secretary. He paid Rs 62 lakhs to Dhanish and Vithul in several instalments. He has to get back Rs 45 lakhs.

The complainant also alleged that P Raju bought the car he is currently using by spending Rs 15 lakh from the money he gave. However, Raju responded that party factionalism was behind the allegations and complaints.