Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan Audio Leak Deepens Congress Fallout Over Vijayan Suicide

Wayanad: The controversy over the alleged suicide of former District Congress Committee (DCC) treasurer N M Vijayan resurfaced on Sunday following the leak of an audio conversation between his family and senior Congress leader Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan.

The family has accused Congress leaders of failing to honour promises to take responsibility for Vijayan’s financial liabilities. Vijayan and his son Jijesh had allegedly died by suicide last year. On Saturday, Vijayan’s daughter-in-law Padmaja attempted suicide by slitting her wrists, blaming Congress for abandoning the family.

In the leaked clip, Radhakrishnan is heard expressing concern that party leaders had not kept their word. He specifically mentioned Kalpetta MLA T Siddique, saying the matter could have been resolved much earlier.

Later, Radhakrishnan told reporters he had not come across the audio. He confirmed that he chaired a committee formed after Vijayan’s death and submitted its report to the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) based on the family’s statements.

“As directed by the party, the report was kept confidential. I cannot disclose its contents. I submitted the inquiry report, and I understand some action was taken. It is not for me to say whether justice was done,” he said, while denying that he had accused fellow leaders. “I am not someone who blames party workers. I still hope the issue will be resolved.”

Defending himself, MLA Siddique said a legal agreement had been reached with the family, which included three assurances: Rs 20 lakh for immediate needs, clearance of hospital expenses, and takeover of Vijayan’s Rs 60 lakh loan pledged against his property.

“The first two have been settled. Regarding the Rs 60 lakh liability, we have asked the Sultan Bathery Cooperative Bank to reduce the loan amount so it can be cleared soon,” Siddique said, adding he was deeply hurt by the renewed allegations. “I tried my best to help. These developments pain me.”

Meanwhile, CPI M leader M V Jayarajan, who visited Padmaja in hospital, blamed Congress leaders for the deaths of Vijayan and his son.

“Vijayan took loans to repay money collected by Congress leaders as bribes in exchange for job promises. When neither jobs nor refunds materialised, pressure mounted. Leaders such as I C Balakrishnan and N D Appachan allegedly made him pledge his property to return the money. He was cheated, and even his son was betrayed after losing his job,” Jayarajan alleged.

Siddique, however, accused the CPI M of political opportunism. “Don’t be deceived by the CPI M’s smokescreen. This is their attempt to fish in troubled waters,” he wrote on Facebook.