Kerala minister denies mafia hand

  • 23/06/2003

  • Pioneer (New Delhi)

Kerala forest minister K Sudhaka-ran on Monday denied that many officials in his department had been transferred from different centres under pressure from the 'sandal mafia' operating in the State. Replying to a submission by opposition leader V S Achuthanandan in the Assembly, he also termed as 'baseless' media reports that the Chief Minister had 'stayed' the orders issued for transfer of forest officers.