Land registration documents show that advocate M.J. Benny, husband of Balakrishnan’s younger daughter K.B. Rani, bought nearly one acre of land under five different title deeds in fast-growing Marad, near the site of a proposed hi-tech city, for a total Rs 81 lakh in 2008-10.
Benny had enrolled as a lawyer eight years ago but shifted his operations to Delhi after marriage. His IT returns show a total income of Rs 5 lakh in 2008 and Rs 5.5 lakh in 2009, far too insufficient to support the wealth acquisition.
In another development, Balakrishnan’s brother K.G. Bhaskaran, who has been a special government pleader, has gone on leave following a directive from advocate-general C.P. Sudhakara Prasad.
Prasad’s directive to Bhaskaran came amidst reports about his disproportionate assets case. Bhaskaran has a farm in Tamil Nadu worth approximately Rs 3.5 crore.
According to sources, the bulk of wealth was acquired by Balakrishnan’s kin during the five months between February and June 2009.
The Kerala home department has already launched proceedings for a vigilance department probe against Balakrishnan’s older son-in-law, P.V. Sreenijan, after receiving a letter from chief minister V.S. Achuthanandan. Sreenijan, who is married to K.B. Sony, is accused of amassing assets worth more than Rs 7.5 crore in the past four years.
Former Supreme Court judge V.R. Krishna Iyer dared Balakrishnan to break his silence over allegations of wealth amassment by his relatives and suggested that he face a judicial probe.
“It is high time Balakrishnan broke his silence over the allegations. The response I received from across the country to my remarks against him shows that it is high time Balakrishnan came out with what he has to say,” Iyer told the media here. “With more allegations surfacing, it is best that he faces a judicial probe.”
SC petition
A Delhi-based advocate has moved the Supreme Court seeking Balakrishnan’s removal as the National Human Rights Commission chief and a judicial probe into Sreenijan’s alleged amassing of wealth disproportionate to his income, adds PTI. The petition by Manohar Lal Sharma was filed in the court’s registry yesterday.