Revenue Secretary V Venu has directed the Alappuzha District Collector to withdraw the criminal case, the department had filed against Omanakuttan, a local leader of CPM in Cherthala following complaints that he was collecting money from inhabitants of a relief camp at Ambedkar Community hall, Kannikat, Cherthala. In a Facebook post, the revenue secretary also apologised to the local CPM leader.  
Dr Venu said that Omanakuttan was not a thief and had collected money to pay for the autorickshaw that he had hired to bring in rice from the nearby ration shop for the camp as he was also an inhabitant. Revenue Secretary said that it was the responsibility of the revenue department to provide materials to the relief camps but in exigencies, the inhabitants of the camp also take up the responsibility and buy rice which is an immediate necessity from the nearby ration shop.
Omanakuttan had taken the responsibility and collected money from other inhabitants as he didn’t have money to pay for the autorickshaw in which he had brought the rice.
Party revokes suspension
 Alappuzha: A DAY after CPM suspended Omanakuttan, local committee member of Kuruppankulangara, Cherthala south panchayat, for allegedly collecting money from inmates of a relief camp, the party revoked the decision after the internal inquiry found the allegation to be incorrect.