Marad relief: Kareem alleges fund fraud by IUML

KOZHIKODE: Former Minister and CPM leader Elamaram Kareem has alleged that the amount distributed to the relatives of the victims of Marad massacre in 2003 was collected by the Indian Union Muslim League leaders from big businessmen in the Gulf to salvage the party from a crisis.
"We have information that IUML leaders mopped up the amount from NRI businessmen who have lenient towards the party.This amount was then deposited in the Chief Minister's relief fund from where the amount was distributed to the families," Kareem told ToI.
According to Kareem, the IUML was in a deep crisis after the Sangh Parivar insisted on a CBI enquiry into the killing of nine persons. "Our party and a section in the Congress wanted to rehabilitate the Muslim families who fled Marad after the incident. The Sangh Parivar opposed it saying no rehabilitation was possible without a CBI enquiry." The IUML, according to Kareem, struck a deal with a section of BJP leaders to avoid the CBI probe. The compensation of Rs.10 lakh for each of the families was a part of the deal," he said. The IUML collected the amount from businessmen as there was not enough money in the Chief Minister's fund, he said.
"The government played a hide-and-seek game when I asked a question in the Assembly. It said the details are being collected. We want to know who are the persons who contributed money to the CM's fund at that time. I have filed a petition under the RTI Act and is expecting a reply soon," Kareem said.
Sangh Parivar had returned the cheques for Rs.1lakh given by government to the victims' families as a protest against the refusal to institute a CBI investigation. It agreed for a comprise solution and allowed the Muslim families to return to Marad after a series of discussions. Rs.10 lakh compensation and a government job for a member in the family of those killed were the major components of the compromise package.