Kerala home minister denies Karnataka's charge in Madani case

Kerala home minister Kotiyeri Balakrishnan today refuted Karnataka government's allegation that Kerala police was not extending co-operation for the arrest of PDP leader Abdul Nasser Madani, who has been charge-sheeted in the 2008 Babngalore blasts case.

"This allegation could be seen only as a ploy to divert attention from the criticism by the Karnataka High Court against the police in that sate in connection with the case", Balakrishnan told reporters here.

He was reacting to media reports quoting Karnataka home minister VS Acharya as having said yesterday that it was due to Kerala's non-coperation that Madani's arrest was being delayed.

"Kerala had already made it clear that the state would extend co-operation in the matter if a request came from the authorities of that state. Karnataka has so far not made it clear what help it expects from Kerala", Balakrishnan said.

Declining to entertain further queries on the matter, he said "we did not intend to complicate the issues".