New Delhi: The Kerala Police on Monday registered a case of murder against CPM leader MM Mani after his remark that the CPM had a history of killing its political rivals. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has said that Mani’s statement will be probed.

Meanwhile, a case of murder, abetment to murder and concealing information has been filed against the Idukki district leader.

Sources say that the CPM will deal with the issue legally and politically and cooperate with the investigations.

Mani’s remark came weeks after Achuthanandan aide-turned-rebel TP Chandrasekharan was killed after floating his own party. Mani reportedly said at a public meeting, “Vayalar Ravi was the Home Minister at the time. We killed 13 of our rivals. One was shot dead, another was beaten to death and a third was stabbed to death. After that, the Congress workers ran away.”

CPM leader Sitaram Yechury, however, said that the party had been a victim of “political murders”. “Our culture is not of vindictiveness. Whatever has been stated by him (Mani) is wrong. We have been victims of political murders… We have raised it in Parliament. This is not our politics. On the contrary, we fight such politics.”

Meanwhile, Congress reacted on the issue saying, “On one side, you have Naxals, on the other, is religious terror groups and in mainstream politics, we have a party admitting to murder.” “They draw inspiration from philosophy that also inspires abhinav bharat,” said party spokesman Manish Tiwari.