Voice clips add new twist to Kerala politician's case

Dubai - The Bharat Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS) Kerala chief Vellappally was arrested in Dubai on August 22.

In a new twist to the controversial Dh9 million cheque case involving Kerala politician Thushar Vellappally, voice clips of the complainant has emerged seemingly establishing a 'conspiracy' to demand money.
The Bharat Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS) Kerala chief Vellappally was arrested in Dubai on August 22 following a complaint filed by Nazil Abdulla alleging that the politician did not honour his payment commitment of 10 years.
The Bharatiya Janata Party-allied politician was later released on bail on a Dh1 million guarantee and banned from leaving the UAE pending the court case.
Vellappally had denied the allegations stating that he did not issue the cheque. Nor did he owe any money to Abdulla who was a sub-contractor under him.
In the voice clips doing the rounds on social media, Abdulla could be heard urging a friend to offer him monetary help to purchase a cheque so that he can 'trap' Vellappally.
In the voice clips, he said he needed Dh25,517 (Rs5 lakh) to purchase the cheque from an acquaintance.
However, Vellappally on his part claimed that the voice clips "completely exposed" Abdulla. "He is a big fraud. No doubt. I am someone with immense political credibility and I don't change my word often. I am sticking to what I told you earlier. I neither have given him the cheque nor do I owe him any money."
Vellappally had, in an earlier interview with Khaleej Times, said that his company closed 14 years ago and the cheque presented by Abdulla is 10 years old.
"I have collected relevant documents of my company to prove that all pending payments to the complainant have been cleared long back. He fabricated the whole story to demand money from me. Truth is on my side," said Vellappally.
He alleged that the 'payment agreement' that Abdulla claims he has is a forged document. "If he presents it in the court, he will get arrested."
On earlier reports alleging that he had offered Abdulla Dh3 million to settle the case, Vellappally said, "There is no iota of truth in it. I have given my written statement to the prosecution that I am willing to pay him Dh100,000, that too out of goodwill."
anjana@khaleejtimes.com

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