T. U. Kuruvilla

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T. U. Kuruvila is a politician from Kerala, India. He belongs to Kerala Congress (Joseph) party lead by P. J. Joseph, and represents Kothamangalam legislative assembly of Kerala. He was a former minister of the CPI (M) led V.S. Achuthanandan government. He is also one of the leader and chevalier of syriac orthodox christian group in Kerala.

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[edit] Political career

He was the president of Keerampara panchayat in Eranakulam district, Kerala. He was also the chairman of the Kerala State Housing Board (KSHB) during 1996-2001. He defeated UDF candidate V. J. Paulose in 2006 assembly elections in Kothamangalam. At present, he is the vice-chairman of the Kerala Congress(J) party and also a notable person both in the socio-political and the church circles.[1] [2]

[edit] Minister

He became minister for Public works in Kerala cabinet in November 2006 when party chief P.J. Joseph stepped down following allegations that he had misbehaved with a woman co-passenger while on a flight journey. The party had chosen T.U. Kuruvilla as a replacement for P J Joseph. [3] [4]

[edit] Controversy

Kuruvilla resigned from the Kerala cabinet on September 2, 2007, as he was accused of a report by the district collector of Idukki, in connection with a land dealing where his family was involved. According to a Kuwait-based NRI businessman, the minister’s son and two daughters had signed a contract with him to purchase a land in Munnar. In this purpose, they have accepted Rs. 6.7 crore from him and later the minister refused to either return over the money or return the land. [5]

However, according to P J Joseph, there were no established procedures followed when dealing with Kuruvilla’s resignation case as there is no credible inquiry established. He claimed that neither the report of the district collector nor that of the chief secretary accused Kuruvilla of any malpractices. He further said that there was a conspiracy against the party and Kuruvilla to taint them. [5]

Later, the Kerala Congress-Joseph party nominated party legislator Monce Joseph as the new state minister to replace T.U. Kuruvilla.

On 15 May 15 2008, Kerala police informed a lower court that the case of forgery against him was a "mistake of fact" and they could not find any substantive evidences.[6]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Keralaministers.com. "Chevalier T. U. Kuruvilla", Keralaministers.com. 
  2. ^ K. A. Martin. "Kothamangalam keeps both fronts guessing", The Hindu. 
  3. ^ correspondents in Kerala. "LDF panel sets deadline for Kerala Congress(J)", The Hindu. Retrieved on 2007-10-09. 
  4. ^ Special correspondent. "Joseph steps down; Kuruvilla named new Kerala Congress(J) Minister", The Hindu. Retrieved on 2006-09-05. 
  5. ^ a b Ramesh Babu. "Minister quits over Munnar land scam", Hindustan Times. Retrieved on 2007-09-03. 
  6. ^ UNI. "Case against former minister ‘mistake of fact’", Indlawnews. Retrieved on 2008-05-15.