Keralam CPI(M) awaits ICC report on complaint against former Palakkad secretary

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] has stepped up its internal inquiry into a sexual misconduct complaint against former Palakkad district secretary E.N. Suresh Babu. The party’s internal complaints committee (ICC) is investigating the complaint. It has reportedly completed key procedures, including recording the statement of the woman who filed the complaint.

The complainant is a lawyer and a party leader. She is understood to have submitted digital evidence in support of her allegations against Mr. Babu.

The ICC will submit its inquiry report and recommendations to the CPI(M) State committee after completing the investigation. The State leadership will decide on further action against Mr. Babu based on the findings. The possibility of disciplinary action, including removal from primary membership, is also being discussed within the party.

As per the party’s rules, a complaint against a leader of an organisational unit must be investigated by the ICC of the next higher committee. Since Mr. Babu was the Palakkad district secretary when the complaint was raised, the matter was referred to the ICC under the party central committee.

The woman’s complaint had earlier led to the intervention of the State leadership and Mr. Babu’s removal from the district secretary post. On October 4, the party appointed former MLA V. Chenthamarakshan as his successor at an extended district committee meeting. The CPI(M) had officially described the change as part of its organisational review following the electoral setback.

The party had maintained that Mr. Babu stepped down voluntarily due to personal reasons, denying any link between his removal and the complaint. However, the ICC inquiry has brought the circumstances surrounding his exit as district secretary back into focus.

The complaint reportedly relates to an incident at the CPI(M) district committee office in Palakkad, where the woman had been called.

The issue is likely to come up for further discussion at the State leadership level after the ICC submits its report. The findings and recommendations will determine the next course of action against Mr. Babu.