VK Ebrahim Kunju is an Indian politician and former Public Works Minister in 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 Ebrahim Kunju was born on Tuesday, May 20, 1952 in Kangopili, Ernakulam, Kerala (age 70 in 2022). After passing the SSLC examination, he became active 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 later became one of the prominent leaders of the Indian Union Muslim League in Kerala.
appearance
Hair color: black
Eye color: black
family
VK Ebrahim Kunju hails from a Malayali Muslim family in Kangopilly, Ernakulam, Kerala.
Parents and siblings
His father’s name is VU Khader and mother’s name is Chithumma.
wife and children
VK Ebrahim Kunju is married to Nadeera and has 3 children. Abdul Ghafoor, Abbas and Anwar. His son Adv. Abdul Gafoor is contesting the 2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly elections as the Indian Union Muslim League candidate from Kalamassery Assembly constituency in Ernakulam, Kerala. VK Ebrahim Kunju represented Kalamassery Parliamentary Constituency from 2011 to 2021.
Profession
politics
VK Ebrahim Kunju started his political career as a member of the Muslim Students Federation (MSF), the student wing of the Indian Muslim League (IUML) in Kerala, and later joined the Muslim Youth League. Kunju became one of the prominent leaders of the Muslim League in Kerala. He served as a member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly for 20 consecutive years between 2001 and 2021, during which he held various positions in the state government.
VK Ebrahim Kunju during the Legislative Assembly campaign
Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA)
VK Ebrahim Kunju was the IUML candidate in the 2001 Kerala Legislative Assembly elections; the Indian Muslim League was part of the United Democratic Front (UDF), which won the elections and formed the government. He represents the Mattancherry assembly constituency in Ernakulam district of Kerala; he won the first election, defeating the sitting MP and independent candidate Ma Thomas. The 2005 ice cream parlor sex scandal led to the resignation of senior IUML leader and then industries minister PK Kunhalikutty. VK Ebrahim Kunju was assigned by the party leadership to represent the Muslim League in the UDF ministry. He took over the responsibilities of Minister of Industry and Social Welfare on January 6, 2005 and served until 2006. VK Ebrahim Kunju defeated MC Josephine of the CPI(M) in the 2006 Kerala Assembly elections and retained the Mattancherry constituency. In 2011, he was fielded from Kalamassery assembly constituency by the Muslim League, VK Ebrahim Kunju, defeating K. Chandran Pillai of the CPI(M). He was appointed as Public Works Minister in the second Oommen Chandy Ministry under UDF; VK Ebrahim Kunju assumed office on May 23, 2011 and completed his term on May 20, 2016.
VK Ebrahim Kunju and Oommen Chandy
dispute
Cases that have been identified
- 1 penalty related charge (Section 143 IPC)
- 1 charge related to rioting penalty (Section 147 IPC)
- 1 charge related to disobeying an order duly issued by a public servant (Section 188 IPC)
- 1 charge relating to danger or obstruction on a public road or navigation route (Section 283 IPC)
- 1 count in relation to each member of the unlawful assembly guilty of an offense committed in the prosecution of a common object (Section 149 IPC)
Palarivattom flyover scam
The Palarivattam flyover scandal during the second Oommen Chandy cabinet (2011-16) is considered one of the most scandalous incidents in the history of the Kerala Public Works Department. The Palarivattom flyover scam refers to the poor infrastructure construction at the National Highway 66 bypass pipeline junction in Kochi. The work on the flyover was started in 2014 during the second term of Oommen Chandy, then Public Works Minister VK Ebrahim Kunju. The overpass was put into use and open to the public on October 16, 2016.
Groundbreaking ceremony of Palarivattom flyover
The total construction cost of the flyover is estimated to be around Rs 47 crore. In May 2019, the overpass was closed due to cracks on the surface. The Kerala government appointed Delhi Metro’s E Sreedharan, concrete expert Prof Mahesh Tandon and IIT Madras professor P Alagusundara Murthy to inspect the flyover and submit findings. Some reports stated that 17 of 19 spans and 97 of 102 beams had cracks; they recommended that all spans be demolished and rebuilt as some of them posed a serious threat. A study on the flyover submitted to the National Highways Authority of India in 2018 revealed that cracks were found in pier caps 1, 2, 3, 7, 10 and 12. The committee inspected the flyover and reported that the flyover was weak in stability and informed that the flyover needed to be demolished and rebuilt. The Palarivatun flyover was originally expected to last for 100 years, but the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) conducted a site inspection and assessed that the structure was substandard, causing losses to the public exchequer. VACB’s findings revealed that VK Ebrahim Kunju illegally sanctioned Rs 8.25 billion as mobilization advance as he was fully aware that mobilization advance was not allowed under existing rules and tender conditions. There were allegations that the contractor benefited financially as a result. VACB’s investigation revealed yet another financial fraud related to the Palarivattom flyover scam in which he was accused of providing benefits to contractors. On February 29, 2020, he was interrogated by the VACB and on March 9, 2020, vigilantes raided his home. VK Ebrahim Kunju was arrested by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) on November 18, 2020, after Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan imposed sanctions on him to investigate corruption allegations against him. He was remanded in custody for 14 days; however, he was admitted to a private hospital in Kochi where he was undergoing treatment for multiple myeloma cancer. VK Ebrahim Kunju, whose arrest was recorded at the hospital, was named as the fifth accused in the scam. After repeatedly rejecting VK Ebrahim Kunju’s bail request, the Kerala High Court granted bail to VK Ebrahim Kunju on January 8, 2021, subject to certain bail conditions; taking into account his health condition, the decision was made to release him on bail. Medical reports submitted by his lawyers indicated that he had advanced multiple myeloma and required medical attention. The Palarivattom flyover scam was one of the major talking points of the Left Democratic Front in Kalamassery Assembly constituency during the 2021 elections to the Kerala Legislative Assembly. VK Ebrahim Kunju, who represented the constituency for 10 years between 2011 and 2021, decided not to contest the 2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly elections while his son Adv. Abdul Gafoor was declared for the constituency of IUML candidates. Some reports suggested that VK Ebrahim Kunju’s candidacy was opposed by factions within the Congress and Muslim League; however, VK Ebrahim Kunju denied the rumors, citing poor health as the reason for his withdrawal. The 2021 Kalamassery Assembly constituency elections marked the first time LDF won in the constituency since its inception. Rajiv of the CPI(M) symbolized the victory of the people over the culture of corruption through democratic means.
money laundering
In 2019, the Kerala High Court ordered an Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe against VK Ebrahim Kunju after Kalamasri native Girish Babu filed a public interest litigation petition accusing the former minister of money laundering. Girish accused Ebrahim Kunju of depositing black money worth around Rs 10 crore into the bank account of IUML mouthpiece Chandrika (Kerala daily). The money was allegedly deposited around the time the Center banned high-denomination notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 (November 2016). The money was allegedly linked to the Palarivattom flyover scam. The Indian Muslim League leadership has defended VK Ebrahim Kunju, denying the allegations as baseless and claiming that the transactions were part of regular long-term subscriber funds collected by the newspaper’s management. In May 2020, Girish had filed a petition claiming that VK Ebrahim Kunju had pressured him to withdraw the case and offered him Rs 5 lakh as compensation.
Awards
- In 2013, he received the Kerry Kerala Award for best performance in the fields of literature, culture, politics and society.
- VK Ebrahim Kunju won the Kerala Ratna Puraskaram (Best Minister) in 2012.
income
VK Ebrahim Kunju’s estimated revenue for the financial year 2009-2010 is Rs. 94,540 Cr.
Assets and property
movable property
- Deposits with banks, financial institutions and non-banking financial companies: Rs. 6,08,816
- Corporate bonds, debentures and shares: Rs. 3000
- LIC or other insurance policy: Rs. 13,00,000
- Motor Vehicles: Rs. 5,90,000
real estate
- Non-agricultural land: Rs. 14,00,000
- Commercial Buildings: Rs. 30,00,000
- Residential Building: Rs. 1,36,00,000
Note: The movable and immovable property estimates given are based on 2021. Excludes assets owned by his wife and dependents (minors).
net worth
VK Ebrahim Kunju’s net worth in 2011 was estimated to be Rs. 2,05,07,816. It does not include the net worth of his wife and dependents (minors).
Facts/Trivia
- In his free time, VK Ebrahim Kunju enjoys reading, sightseeing and boating.
- He has served as Ernakulam District Secretary/General Secretary of Indian Muslim League for 25 years.
- VK Ebrahim Kunju was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2020 and underwent chemotherapy.
- From 1993 to 1996, he served as Chairman of Forest Industries (Travancore) Ltd., a government agency of Kerala.
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education