KOCHI: The police have taken steps to designate KN Anandakumar, the former chairman of the NGO Confederation and the chairman of Saigram Global Trust, along with the Confederation's board members, as accused in the half-price scam case. The board members include Sheeba Suresh, Beena Sebastian, and Jayakumaran Nair.

The bylaw of the Confederation, which was formed under the leadership of Anandakumar, stated that items such as scooters and sewing machines were to be provided at half-price, and the distribution responsibility lay with Ananthu Krishnan, who is currently under arrest. Ananthu Krishnan is also the president of the Confederation. It was after the police discovered the bylaw that Anandukumar got into trouble.

On Sunday, the Perinthalmanna police registered a case by naming Retired Justice CN Ramachandran Nair, the Chief Advisor of the NGO Confederation, as an accused. Anandakumar and Ananthu Krishnan are the first and second accused. The complainants mentioned the judge's name in their complaint as a patron, but he is not the patron.

The CPM also found itself on the defensive as revelations came out that the party had received money from Ananthu Krishnan. On Saturday, Ananthu Krishnan told the media that he had given money to various political parties and leaders.

Ananthu Krishnan said that he gave Rs 2 crore to Anandakumar and that Anandakumar was the mastermind behind the scam. Meanwhile, Anandkumar is claiming that has been that he was being used as a weapon and that he had no involvement in the scam.

The NGO Confederation was registered as a trust in 2022 at the Sub-Registrar's office in Sasthamangalam, Thiruvananthapuram. Within eight months of its formation, Rs. 400 crore reached the trust’s three accounts. Only Rs. 3.5 crore remains now.

I'm not patron, resigned from advisory post last June: Retd Judge
Meanwhile, former High Court Judge Justice CN Ramachandran Nair stated that he had no involvement in the half-price scam and was never a patron of the NGO Confederation. He clarified that he had only served as an advisor at the request of Anandakumar and had attended a few events.

"Upon learning last June that money was being collected, I resigned from my advisory position and informed Anandakumar about my decision. I also insisted that if money had been taken, scooters should be provided to the buyers. The complainants may have mistakenly referred to me as a patron when they approached the police. The police registered a case without proper verification. I have communicated with the Superintendent of Police (SP) and have also submitted a complaint to the authorities. I hope that the police would take necessary actions," he said.