CPM leader MM Mani who said in May the party had planned and killed rivals in Kerala has courted fresh controversy after reportedly talking about another political murder in public.

At a meeting in Idukki district last week, Mani reportedly said the CPM was involved in the murder of Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) leader Balu in 2004. INTUC is the trade union wing of the Congress.

On Saturday, Malaylam channels had aired the audio recordings of a speech during which Mani purportedly said Balu was killed to avenge the murder of Ayyapadas, a local CPM committee member.

Mani, who was removed from the CPM state committee and Idukki secretary’s post following his controversial speech in May, termed the audio fake. “This is totally untrue... I never said we (CPM workers) were involved in the killing of Balu,” he said.

With PTI inputs