Evidence links Achuthanandan's son with jailed 'godman'

The Kerala High Court was on Tuesday informed that there was evidence to link VA Arun Kumar, son of former chief minister VS Achuthanandan, with jailed "godman" Swami Amritananthachaithanya alias Santosh Madhavan.

The state vigilance department said it has traced phone calls between Kumar, Madhavan and a woman advocate.

The department said that as the incident that led to the case happened in 2006, it would require another six months to complete the investigation. It has taken statements from 23 people in the case.

The Oommen Chandy government ordered a vigilance department probe after a complaint from Madhavan that Kumar had cheated him in a land deal.

Soon after Chandy took over as the chief minister, Madhavan said in a letter from jail that he had paid Rs70 lakh to Kumar and Rs10 lakh to a woman advocate in 2006 so that sanction would be accorded to fill up around 200 acres of land in Kottayam district.

Chandy forwarded the complaint to the department to look into the matter.

On Oct 12, a team of vigilance officials met Madhavan at the Central Jail in Thiruvananthapuram and he stood by his complaint.

Kumar, who was earlier questioned by the vigilance, is reported to have denied having any links with Madhavan.

Madhavan shot to fame a few years back after he turned to be a self-professed spiritual guru and astrologer to the rich and mighty.

But he landed in trouble when a court here sentenced him to 16 years in jail after he was found guilty of raping and sexually exploiting minor girls.