Kottayam: Leader of the Opposition V. D. Satheesan has intensified his attack on former Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran and the ruling CPI(M) over the alleged theft of a Dvarapalaka sculpture, claiming the minister’s reputation plummeted in value following key arrests in the case.
Addressing the media in Kottayam, Satheesan alleged that after the arrest of the two accused, Padmakumar and Vasu, the compensation amount Kadakampally Surendran sought from him for defamation dramatically shrank.
”Kadakampally Surendran sent me a notice seeking a staggering ₹2 Crore in damages after I asked which billionaire the Dvarapalaka sculpture was handed over to. However, when the case reached the court, the demand dropped to just ₹10 Lakh. It was only after Padmakumar and Vasu were arrested that the ₹2 Crore valuation of his reputation was reduced to ₹10 Lakh,” Satheesan stated.
CPM Complicity Alleged in Conspiracy
The Opposition leader did not stop at accusing the former minister; he broadened the scope of the allegations, pointing fingers directly at the ruling party.
Satheesan claimed that Padmakumar and Vasu had provided statements revealing who sent Unnikrishnan Potti and asserted that he possesses evidence detailing the association between Kadakampally and Potti. He confirmed he would present this evidence when the defamation case against him comes up for hearing in court.
Furthermore, Satheesan alleged that the Devaswom Board and the current Devaswom Minister were complicit in facilitating the latest theft, despite being fully aware of a similar robbery that took place in 2019.
”The procession towards jail has already begun, and many more will join that procession. The CPM also has a role in this conspiracy,” Satheesan warned. He concluded that the party’s reluctance to take action against the jailed Padmakumar stems from the fear that it would implicate more senior CPM leaders in the controversy.
