Palazhi Tyres in ‘Vigilance’ Probe

Kerala’s Left Democratic Front (LDF) government has ordered a vigilance probe into the dealings of Palazhi Tyres Ltd – a project related to former revenue minister K.M. Mani. Palazhi Tyres was a 6 billion rupees (£70.18 billion) project floated by Mani in 1995 for production of automobile tyres. According to ruling legislator P.C. George, the firm has not produced a single tyre in 11 years.

“I have been following this project, which has only been on paper, since its inception. They have purchased 30 acres of land at various places in Kottayam district for starting a tyre company and nothing has happened after that,” George told IANS.

K.M Mani, however, denied the charges saying they are nothing but a ploy by George, who is his archrival: “The dealings of the tyre company are an open book and it is terrible that the LDF government has started acting with vengeance. But I am not going to be cowed down by such probes and anyone who wants to check the account books of the firm is welcome to do so.”