Kerala sports minister calls Anju Bobby George 'corrupt'

Sports minister EP Jayarajan and Anju Bobby George

Thiruvananthapuram: Olympian and Arjuna awardee Anju Bobby George yesterday accused Kerala Sports Minister EP Jayarajan of allegedly insulting her with ‘corruption' charges, even as Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan came out in support of his Cabinet colleague.

Sports minister EP Jayarajan and Anju Bobby George. File pics

Jayarajan, who denied the charge, found himself at the centre of another controversy days after leaving the CPI (M)-led LDF government red-faced when he described boxing icon Muhammad Ali as a sportsman from Kerala during his obituary reference.

Anju, President of the Kerala Sports Council, said she had complained to the chief minister regarding the issue. She was appointed to the post by the previous government.

On Anju's allegation that the sports minister had insulted her and spoken harshly, Vijayan said, "The sports minister had only asked her about her flight tickets. How does that become an insult? The previous government had offered her various concessions, including sponsoring her flight tickets from Bengaluru to Thiruvananthapuram. That was not a proper practice."