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VK Ibrahim Kunju is an Indian politician and former Public Works Minister of the Government of Kerala. In 2020, he was arrested by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) in connection with the Palarivattom flyover scam.
Wiki/Biography
VK Ibrahim Kunju was born on Tuesday, 20 May 1952 (age 70 years as in 2022) in Kongorpilly, Ernakulam, Kerala. After his SSLC examinations, he became actively involved in student politics and joined the Muslim Students Federation (MSF). Later, he led the Muslim Youth League (Youth League), the youth wing of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), and became one of the prominent leaders of the IUML in Kerala.
Physical Appearance
Hair Color: Black
Eye colour: black
Family
VK Ibrahim Kunju belongs to a Malayali Muslim family in Kongorpilly, Ernakulam, Kerala.
parents and siblings
His father’s name was Viu Khadar and mother’s name was Chithumma.
wife and children
VK Ibrahim Kunju is married to Nadira and has three children, Advocate. Abdul Ghafoor, Abbas and Anwar. His son Advocate. Abdul Ghafoor contested the 2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly election as an Indian Union Muslim League candidate from the Kalamassery Assembly constituency in Ernakulam, Kerala. VK Ibrahim Kunju represented the Kalamassery assembly constituency between 2011 and 2021.
livelihood
Politics
VK Ibrahim Kunju started his political career as a member of the Muslim Students Federation (MSF), the student wing of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) in Kerala, and then he joined the Muslim Youth League. Kunju became one of the prominent leaders of the Muslim League in Kerala. He was a member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly for 20 consecutive years between 2001 and 2021, during which he held ministerial portfolios in various departments in the state government.
VK Ibrahim Kunju during his assembly election campaign
Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA)
VK Ibrahim Kunju was the IUML candidate in the 2001 Kerala Legislative Assembly election; The Indian Union Muslim League was part of the United Democratic Front (UDF), which won the elections and formed the government. He represented the Mattancherry assembly constituency in Ernakulam district of Kerala; He won his first election by defeating the sitting MLA MA Thomas, an independent candidate. The 2005 ice cream parlor sex scandal resulted in the resignation of veteran IUML leader, then Industries Minister, PK Kunhalikutty. VK Ibrahim Kunju was appointed by the party leadership to represent the Muslim League in the UDF ministry. He assumed the ministerial responsibilities of the Industries and Social Welfare portfolios on 6 January 2005 and remained in office until 2006. VK Ibrahim Kunju emerged victorious in the 2006 Kerala Assembly elections against MC Josephine of CPI(M) and retained the Mattancherry constituency. In 2011, he was fielded by Muslim League from Kalamassery assembly constituency and VK Ibrahim Kunju defeated K Chandran Pillai of CPI(M). He was named Minister of Public Works in the second UDF-led Oommen Chandy ministry; VK Ibrahim Kunju assumed office on 23 May 2011 and completed his tenure on 20 May 2016.
VK Ibrahim Kunju with Oommen Chandy
controversies
Cases where cognizance was taken
- 1 charge related to punishment (IPC section 143)
- 1 charge relating to punishment for rioting (IPC section 147)
- 1 Charge relating to disobedience to an order duly promulgated by a public servant (IPC Section 188)
- 1 charge relating to danger or obstruction to public way or line of navigation (IPC section 283)
- 1 Charge relating to every member of an unlawful assembly who is guilty of an offense committed in prosecution of a common object (IPC Section 149)
Palarivattom flyover scam
The Palarivattom flyover scam during the second Oommen Chandy cabinet (2011–16) is considered one of the most condemnable incidents in the history of the Kerala Public Works Department. The Palarivattom flyover scam refers to the poorly constructed infrastructure at the pipeline junction at National Highway Bypass 66 in Kochi. Work on the flyover began in 2014 during the second Oommen Chandy ministry, and VK Ibrahim Kunju was the then Public Works Minister. The flyover was commissioned and opened to the public on 16 October 2016.
Foundation stone laying ceremony of Palarivattom flyover
The total construction cost of the flyover was estimated to be around Rs 47 crore. In May 2019, the flyover was closed due to cracks developing on the surface. The Kerala state government appointed E Sreedharan of Delhi Metro, concrete expert Professor Mahesh Tandon and Professor P Alagusundara Murthy of IIT Madras to inspect the flyover and present their findings. Some reports suggested that 17 of 19 spans and 97 of 102 girders had cracks; He suggested demolishing all the extensions and rebuilding them as there were some serious dangers. A study on the flyover submitted to the National Highway Authority of India in 2018 revealed that cracks were found in the caps of piers 1,2,3,7,10 and 12. The committee inspected the flyover and reported weak stability of the flyover and informed that the flyover needed to be demolished and rebuilt. As the Palarivattom flyover was supposed to last for 100 years, the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) visited the site and assessed that the construction was substandard and caused loss to the government exchequer. The VACB findings revealed that VK Ibrahim Kunju had illegally sanctioned an amount of Rs 8.25 crore as mobilization advance, fully knowing that no mobilization advance was admissible as per the extant rules and tender conditions. Allegations were made that the contractor benefited financially from this. The VACB investigation revealed another financial fraud related to the Palarivattom flyover scam in which he was accused of favoring contractors. On 29 February 2020, VACB interrogated him and on 9 March 2020, Vigilance raided his house. VK Ibrahim Kunju was arrested by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) on 18 November 2020, after Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan gave approval to investigate corruption allegations against him. He was sent to judicial custody for 14 days; However, he was sent to a private hospital in Cochin, where he was treated for multiple myeloma cancer. VK Ibrahim Kunju’s arrest was recorded at the hospital, and he has been named the fifth accused in the scam. After rejecting his bail plea several times, the Kerala High Court granted bail to VK Ibrahim Kunju on 8 January 2021, subject to certain bail conditions; After considering his health condition, it was decided to release him on bail. Medical reports presented by his lawyers indicate that he has terminal multiple myeloma cancer and requires medical care. The Palarivattom flyover scam was one of the main talking points used by the Left Democratic Front in the Kalamassery assembly constituency during the 2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly elections. VK Ibrahim Kunju, who represented the constituency for 10 years between 2011 and 2021, decided not to contest the 2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly elections, and his son, Advocate. Abdul Ghafoor was declared as the IUML candidate from the constituency. Some reports suggest that VK Ibrahim Kunju’s candidature was opposed by the Congress and a faction of the Muslim League; However, VK Ibrahim Kunju dismissed the rumors citing ill health as the reason for his withdrawal. The 2021 Kalamassery Assembly constituency election marked the LDF’s first victory in the constituency since its inception. CPI(M)’s P. Rajeev described his victory as the victory of the people over the culture of corruption through democratic means.
Money laundering
In 2019, the Kerala High Court ordered the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to investigate against VK Ibrahim Kunju after Kalamassery native Girish Babu filed a PIL accusing the former minister of money laundering. Girish accused Ibrahim Kunju of depositing black money worth about Rs 10 crore in the bank account of Chandrika, the mouthpiece of Kerala daily newspaper IUML. It was alleged that this money was deposited around the time when the Center banned high value currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 (November 2016). It was alleged that this money was linked to the Palarivattom flyover scam. The Indian Union Muslim League leadership defended VK Ibrahim Kunju, dismissing the allegations as baseless and claiming that the transactions were part of regular long-term subscriber funds collected by the newspaper management. Girish filed a petition in May 2020, saying that VK Ibrahim Kunju pressured him to withdraw the case and offered him Rs 5 lakh.
award
- He received the Kelly Kerala Award in 2013 for best performance in literary, cultural, political and social fields.
- VK Ibrahim Kunju won the Kerala Ratna Award (Best Minister) in 2012.
salary/income
The estimated income of VK Ibrahim Kunju for the financial year 2009–2010 was Rs 94,540.
property and properties
movable property
- Deposits in banks, financial institutions and non-banking financial companies: Rs. 6,08,816
- Bonds, debentures and shares in companies: Rs. 3000
- LIC or other insurance policy: Rs. 13,00,000
- Motor Vehicle: Rs. 5,90,000
Immovable property
- Non-agricultural land: Rs. 14,00,000
- Commercial Building: Rs. 30,00,000
- Residential Building: Rs. 1,36,00,000
Note: The given estimate of movable and immovable assets is as per the year 2021. It does not include property owned by his wife and dependents (minors).
net worth
In 2011, VK Ibrahim Kunju’s net worth was estimated at Rs 2,05,07,816. This does not include the net worth of his wife and dependents (minors).
Facts/General Knowledge
- VK Ibrahim Kunju enjoys reading, sightseeing and sailing in his spare time.
- He has served as Ernakulam District Secretary/General Secretary of the Indian Union Muslim League for 25 years.
- VK Ibrahim Kunju was diagnosed with multiple myeloma cancer and underwent chemotherapy in 2020.
- He was the Chairman of Forest Industries (Travancore) Limited (a Government of Kerala establishment) during 1993–1996.
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn