Idukki: CPM leader M.M Mani is again in news with another controversial speech that the CPM had killed Congress activist Balu in 2004.

He was speaking at a political explanation meeting at the Tenth mile in Adimali.

M.M Mani said that it was the party which killed Congress activist Balu to retaliate the death of Ayyappadas.

Mani, who was Idukki district secretary of CPI-M, had earlier at a public meeting stated that the Marxist party had eliminated at least three of its political foes in the 1980s. A deeply embarrassed CPI-M had later removed him from the post.

Following his controversial speech, the police had registered a case under Section 120(b) (murder conspiracy) and section 118 (concealing the design to commit the crime) of the Indian Penal Code against him