LDF alleges Thiruvananthapuram BJP councillor R. Sugathan’s signature was forged in council attendance register

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Empty chair and table of BJP councillor R. Sugathan, who is jailed under KAAPA, as the attendance register gets passed on during a recent Thiruvananthapuram Corporation council meeting. | Photo Credit: (File photo) NIRMAL HARINDRAN

The Left Democratic Front (LDF) on Sunday demanded the Keralam government and the police to investigate the alleged forging of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) councillor R. Sugathan’s signature in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation council attendance register, an act intended to falsely show his presence at meetings he actually missed while in hiding. LDF Parliamentary party leader S.P. Deepak also demanded the immediate dissolution of the BJP-led ruling council for fabricating official records.

Mr. Deepak submitted a letter and copies of relevant documents regarding this matter to the government and the District Police Chief on Sunday. Mr. Sugathan, who contested as the BJP candidate from the Vazhottukonam ward, is an accused in several criminal cases. After the election, he was implicated in more cases and imprisoned by the police under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA). During the period he was in hiding, Mr. Sugathan missed three council meetings. However, his signature was forged in the council register to create the false impression that he had attended them, he said.

Mr. Deepak alleged that the forgery was committed to avoid his disqualification, which would have been triggered by missing three consecutive council meetings.

“The attendance register for the council meetings is maintained at the Mayor’s office. Such a forged signature could only have been recorded with the Mayor’s knowledge. The forged signatures were recorded for the council meetings held on February 26, March 11 and April 27. An examination of the attendance register copies obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act revealed that these forged signatures falsely indicated Mr. Sugathan’s participation in the council meetings on those three days,” said Mr. Deepak.

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