Wading further into the controversy surrounding Transport Minister Thomas Chandy and MLA PV Anwar, CPI (M) veteran VS Achuthanandan wrote to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday, seeking an enquiry against the two politicians.

Chandy and Anwar are facing allegations of corruption and legal violations in relation to a private resort in Alappuzha and water theme park in Malappuram.

VS, the former CM who is currently the chairman of the State Administrative Reforms Commission, urged Pinarayi to ensure that the allegations against the two politicians do not undermine the image of the government. “Anwar and Chandy are under the shadow of suspicion now. People should be convinced about the truth in the issues,” VS wrote.

Representing Kuttanad constituency in Alappuzhza, Thomas Chandy is a veteran leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and is one of the richest legislators in the Assembly. Chandy stands accused of illegally acquiring land and expending government funds for the Lake Palace resort he owns in Alappuzha.

The PVR Water Theme Park owned by Nilambur MLA Anwar faces allegations of violating waste management guidelines, and functioning without the necessary permissions from the local panchayat. It has also been alleged that a check dam has been built illegally for the park, and a probe has been initiated by the Forest Department in this regard. On Friday, the Pollution Control Board withdrew the sanction given to the park located at Kakkadampoyil in Malappuram district.

While the Opposition has launched a strong attack against the two leaders, CM Pinarayi has chosen to stand by Chandy and Anwar. He told the Assembly on Thursday that the allegations against Chandy were politically motivated, and insisted that there was nothing illegal going on in connection with Chandy’s and Anwar’s business initiatives.