Thiruvananthapuram, July 21 (IANS) After former Kerala chief minister V.S. Achuthanandan's son suing the media for baseless allegations, it is now the turn of the Marxist veteran's scientist daughter to do so for alleging she made money after collecting research grants.


In a press releases issued here Thursday, V.V. Asha, a scientist employed with the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, said that a section of the media was airing baseless allegations against her because she is Achuthanandan's daughter.

"I will have no other option but to seek legal action against those media organisations which are coming out with baseless allegations that I earned money after collecting research grants from the state forest department. This is totally false and malicious campaign to tarnish me because I am the daughter of Achuthanandan," said Asha in her statement.

Asha had earlier called a press conference here but at the last moment cancelled it and a press statement was issued.

Her statement said that the money was released when A.K. Antony was the chief minister (2001-04) and it was given to the centre where she works and she has not claimed a single paisa for her use. "I am working here for the past 13 years and from the research grant of the state government that I received I have secured one patent and published nine articles in journals," said Asha.

Achuthanandan's son, V.A. Arunkumar, a state government employee, has sent a few legal notices to certain media organisations for coming out with baseless allegations. However, Wednesday an assembly committee was appointed to probe his appointment, made by Achuthanandan, as director of state-run ICT Academy, a newly formed IT firm.