The Bharatiya Janata Party’s Thrissur City unit on Wednesday threatened legal action against a former temporary staff at its office and media organisations over what it described as “false and misleading” reports linking the party’s district office to alleged black money transactions during the Assembly election.

In a press release on Wednesday, BJP Thrissur City president Justin Jacob alleged that some media outlets had been publishing “baseless and one-sided” reports aimed at damaging the party’s image.

“The reports relating to the district office are factually incorrect and mislead the public,” Mr. Jacob said.

Referring to P. Akshay, who has levelled the allegations, Mr. Jacob said he “was never the district office secretary of the BJP” but had worked only as a temporary supporting staff member at the district office.

“He was removed from the office following complaints regarding his conduct. His present allegations against the BJP are motivated by personal vengeance and are intended to spread false information,” the statement said.

The BJP also denied that any financial transactions of the nature alleged had taken place at the district office.

“The allegations are completely baseless and fabricated. Giving credence to such false accusations with the intention of tarnishing the reputation of the party and its district office is not in keeping with the ethics of journalism,” the statement said.

Earlier on Wednesday morning, Mr. Akshay alleged that huge amounts of unaccounted cash had been brought to the party office during the Assembly election campaign.

He claimed the money arrived in 17 sacks and alleged that senior party leaders diverted the funds for personal use instead of distributing it for election-related activities. Mr. Akshay claimed that he had submitted complaints to the BJP’s central leadership and the State president but received no response.

Mr. Jacob warned that the party would initiate legal proceedings against Mr. Akshay and the media organisations that published the allegations.

Efforts to elicit a response from the party’s district leadership about the allegations were unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, Thrissur District Congress Committee president Joseph Tajet termed the allegations serious and called for a court-monitored investigation.

He said the allegations resembled claims made during the 2021 Kodakara hawala case by the then BJP office secretary, Tirur Satheesh.

“The Enforcement Directorate derailed the investigation in that case and helped the BJP. Public confidence in the investigating agencies has therefore been eroded. The latest revelations warrant a comprehensive investigation under the supervision of the court,” Mr. Tajet said.

He alleged that the BJP was attempting to influence election outcomes through black money and said such actions undermined democratic values.

The CPI(M) took out a protest march in Thrissur city demanding an investigation into the allegations.

Published - July 22, 2026 07:25 pm IST