Ex-Mizoram Governor, others booked in cheating case

The police have registered the FIR under IPC Sections 406 and 420, arraigning Praveen as the first accused and Rajasekharan as the fifth. Others named in the FIR are Praveen’s business partner Vijayan, his wife Krishaveni and BJP NRI cell chairman Harikumar.

Calling the case politically motivated, Rajasekharan said, “I do not know anything about the financial dealings. The police have registered the FIR against me without conducting a preliminary probe.”

According to the FIR, Harikrishnan had given Rs 35 lakh to Praveen when Rajasekharan was the Governor. As the promised venture did materialise, Harikrishnan demanded his investment back, but Praveen and his partner Vijayan, of Kollamkode in Palakkad, allegedly failed to return the amount.

According to the complaint, Harikrishnan approached BJP leaders for a mediation. Subsequently, the complaint states, the duo returned Rs 6.25 lakh, ostensibly at the intervention of BJP NRI cell chairman Harikumar and other rounds of mediation.

Harikrishnan, in his complaint, said he was approaching the police since Praveen and Vijayan refused to return the remaining Rs 28.75 lakh despite repeated interventions over the last two years.

Rajasekharan said, “The CPI(M) is trying to politically capitalise the issue… The proposed venture was envisaged to make paper cotton mix, as a substitute for plastic. As it is pro-environment, I have only encouraged the concept – I haven’t asked anyone to invest money.”