Opposition gheraos mayor, alleges document forgery

KOCHI: LDF councillors led by opposition leader K J Antony gheraoed Kochi Corporation Mayor Soumini Jain on Thursday alleging that the mayor forged a file related to the appointment of a clerical staff as coordinator for the Smart City project.
The nearly one-hour-long gherao ended with the mayor and ruling party councillors agreeing to the opposition demand that the controversial file be sealed, kept in custody of the corporation secretary and they are permitted to peruse it on Friday.
The issue was raised by opposition councillor V P Chandran right at the start of the general council convened on Thursday afternoon.
"The file is related to appointment of a senior clerk named O V Jayaraj as the coordinator of Union government-funded Smart City project. He was officially appointed as the coordinator on July 30, but the mayor misled the state government and the principal secretary that the appointment was made on July 20. Actually, it was on July 22 that the mayor directed the corporation secretary to form a cell to look after Smart City project. The secretary received the file on July 26 and order setting up the coordination cell was issued on July 30," Chandran told the council.
When Jayaraj was transferred from Ernakulam to Manjeswaram on July 22, he approached the Kerala Administrative Tribunal pointing out that he was the Smart City project coordinator and secured a stay order.
"Jayaraj misled the tribunal by stating that he was made the coordinator on July 20 with documents signed by mayor. The mayor helped Jayaraj to cheat the tribunal," said Antony.
Calling the allegations false Jayaraj denied submitting the July 20 communication to the tribunal. "The stay was not issued on the basis of the July 20 letter," he said.
Ruling party councillors said Jayaraj, a leader of the Congress' employees association, is being targeted on political grounds. "There are seven officials who obtained a stay from the tribunal and only Jayaraj is being targeted since he is our association leader," said a ruling party councillor.
The mayor tried to explain details related to Jayaraj's matter, but could not do so because of the din.
"It is a victory for us that the mayor finally agreed to allow us check the file. We will approach the court seeking action against the mayor and concerned officials for document forgery. The ruling party has vested interest in ensuring continued service of Jayaraj, who is handling Smart City project, e-governance and property tax revision work of the corporation," Chandran said.