Kerala polls: CPI(M) sends legal notice to K.C. Venugopal over allegations of fake Aadhaar cards

The Kannur district leadership of the Communist Party of India (CPIM) has issued a legal notice to K.C. Venugopal, All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary in-charge of organisation, over his allegation regarding the fabrication of fake Aadhaar cards in Payyanur.

The legal action was initiated by CPI(M) Kannur district secretary K.K. Ragesh through advocate K. Vishwam of Thalassery.

The move comes in the wake of Mr. Venugopal’s public allegation that fake Aadhaar cards were being produced on the third floor of the CPI(M) Payyanur area committee office as part of a plan to manipulate the electoral process. He had raised the charge while inaugurating an election meeting in Payyanur, claiming that the CPI(M) was resorting to old tactics out of fear of defeat.

Earlier, the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) had lodged a complaint with the State Election Commission regarding the issue. Following this, the commission sought a report from the Kannur District Collector.

The CPI(M)’s legal notice marks an escalation in the political row with the party seeking to counter what it termed baseless allegations.

Meanwhile, Congress leaders have maintained that the alleged production of fake identification cards points to a deliberate attempt at electoral malpractice.

DCC president Martin George had also echoed similar allegations, stating that the fabrication of fake ID documents was aimed at subverting the democratic process.