A high-profile corporate social responsibility (CSR) fund scam in Kerala has taken a dramatic turn, with former High Court judge CN Ramachandran Nair being named as an accused in a case linked to fraudulent fund misappropriation.
The scheme allegedly orchestrated by Ananthu Krishnan saw promises of discounted two-wheelers, laptops, and household appliances made to various charitable organizations, under the guise of utilizing CSR funds from private firms. Police reports suggest Krishnan, posing as the coordinator of the National NGO Confederation, persuaded charities to pool funds for this initiative—funds that then vanished without a trace.
Complaints have flooded police stations across Kerala, with one such case, filed by the Angadippuram Kisan Service Society (KSS), leading to an FIR against Justice Nair. According to the complaint, the NGO Confederation siphoned off ₹34 lakh from KSS between April and November 2024. Nair has been listed as the third accused due to his alleged role as a patron of the organization.
In response, the former judge has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, insisting he was never a trustee of the NGO and had severed ties long ago. He maintains that his role was limited to legal advisory and has dismissed the accusations as baseless.
The case has sparked political ripples, with calls for Nair’s removal from an inquiry commission he was appointed to lead regarding the Munambam land dispute. Prominent figures such as IUML MLA Najeeb Kanthapuram, Congress leader Laly Vincent—who has secured interim protection from arrest—and an NGO linked to BJP leader AN Radhakrishnan have also been named in various related complaints.
With the scandal widening and legal battles looming, the CSR scam has become a major flashpoint in Kerala’s legal and political landscape.
