Speaking to TNIE, Ajayakumar confirmed that he had met Boby at the jail. However, no special consideration was given to the businessman.

“On January 10, while on the way to Thiruvananthapuram, I visited Kakkanad jail as part of an inquiry into a complaint. Then I met Boby Chemmanur. I know the businessman. However, he neither demanded any special consideration nor gave him any facility. People associated with him might have met him at the jail. But it was done as per the rules. As far as I know there was no VIP among the visitors. Boby told me that earlier he had paid Rs 500 to stay at a jail in some other state as part of a tourism program. Now he could experience the same without any cost,” he said, half serious, half in jest.

He said some officers who maintain vengeance against him might be behind the allegations.

“After going through the reports, I suspect it was targeted towards me. I had taken disciplinary action against some officers. I suspect that they could be behind the circulation of these false reports,” Ajayakumar said.