Thiruvananthapuram: Congress MLA in Kerala Sobhana George, an accused in the sensational fake intelligence document case, was on December 7 suspended from the party for five years for criticising Chief Minister A K Antony but the disciplinary action immediately triggered strong protests from her mentor and senior leader K Karunakaran.

Announcing the action against the MLA, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Muraleedharan said the Pradesh Disciplinary Committee's recommendation to suspend her from the party for five years was accepted after discussions with Congress president Sonia Gandhi, All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretaries Ambika Soni and Vayalar Ravi, besides Antony and Karunakaran.

Shortly after Muraleedharan's announcement, Karunakaran held that he was neither consulted nor informed about the suspension of his ardent supporter.

Speaking to reporters in Thrissur, he said action against a party MLA for criticising the Chief Minister was "unheard of". He, however, said he did not intend to take up Sobhana's case with the high command, as it was for the aggrieved party to appeal to the AICC.

Sobhana was listed as the third accused by the crime branch in its chargesheet in the fake document case relating to the telecast of a story by a private television channel, linking Tourism Minister K V Thomas with a hawala racket.

The DAC, after watching video clippings of her press conference during which she had lashed out at Antony, had last week recommended disciplinary action against Sobhana as her remarks were found to have tarnished the image of the party.

PTI