Kerala State Minorities Development Finance Corporation (KSMDFC) on Monday accepted the resignation of State Higher Education minister KT Jaleel’s kin, KT Adeeb, from the post of General Manager of the Corporation. Following allegations against the minister for appointing a kin, Adeeb, on Sunday, sent an email to KSMDFC MD VK Akbar, expressing his intention to resign from the post. He stated that the nepotism allegations “hurt his dignity”.
Akbar accepted Adeeb’s resignation after the Corporation’s board meeting on Monday.
In his email resignation, Adeeb had also stated that he would be returning to his former company, The South Indian Bank, after quitting the GM post.
Adeeb’s move to resign comes a few days after the IUML leaders decided to move the High Court against the appointment. On Saturday, several members of the Muslim Youth League began a black flag protest at the minister when he visited Kondotty to inaugurate the temple entry proclamation anniversary.
KT Jaleel, the state higher education minister and minority affairs minister, had come under fire after being accused of nepotism by IUML general secretary PK Firoz and vice-president Najeeb over the appointment of KT Adeeb, the minister’s cousin, as the general manager of KSMDFC.
Jaleel, in a press conference, had denied these allegations stating that the appointment was made following all the rules laid out by the government, and Adeeb was selected as he was the most qualified among all applicants.
“We posted several advertisements in newspapers inviting eligible persons to apply for the position. Seven candidates had applied out of which three were chosen. However, none of them was found to be suitable for the position,” Jaleel said, justifying the appointment of Adeeb.
Countering Jaleel, the IUML leaders stated that KSMDFC appointment can only be made to government employees on deputation. Adeeb was employed in the South Indian Bank and was not a government employee. Further, the leaders also alleged that Adeeb only had a BTech degree and not an MBA, as Jaleel had claimed earlier.
The IUML had initially approached the Vigilance Department in the matter. However, as the case was not progressing, they decide to take legal action in the issue. Demanding that the Minister resign from his post immediately or the Chief Minister expel him, the IUML has proclaimed that they would start protests and would be backed by the UDF. The IUML is the second largest party in the Congress-led opposition in Kerala.