The Keralam government on Tuesday ordered an inquiry against leader of opposition Pinarayi Vijayan , Communist Party of India (CPI-M) MLA PA Mohammed Riyas and Vijayan’s daughter Veena T in connection with the allegations of bribery in the CMRL-Exalogic case, state home minister Ramesh Chennithala said.
Enforcement Directorate Seeks FIR Against Vijayan
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has requested the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and others. This action comes after the ED found what it described as ‘evidence’ during its investigation into a corruption case. The request was formally made to Keralam DGP Ravada Chandrasekhar under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Chennithala said that his office had sought legal opinion from the Attorney General on the ED report, following which he held consultations with chief minister VD Satheesan on Tuesday. “The ED has the right (to seek the registration of a case). The Supreme Court made it clear that a law-enforcement agency, upon receipt of such communication, cannot ignore it. He pointed out that the Congress was among the few non- BJP parties to oppose ED probes and the way the agency collects evidence and testimonies across the country.
Under section 66(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), it must share its information with a law-enforcement agency.
The government has to act legally,” Chennithala told reporters. He said that the nature of the probe will be decided by the DGP. Meanwhile, Riyas said he is ready to face any inquiry. “So when a Congress-led state government is opening an inquiry by believing an ED report, the society will certainly discuss it,” he said. Earlier this month, ED had written to the state DGP seeking the registration of a corruption case against Vijayan and others based on “evidence” it found of the former chief minister receiving kickbacks from Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL), a Kochi-based minerals manufacturer, through his daughter Veena T and the now-defunct IT firm Exalogic Solutions she ran. Meanwhile, the CPI(M) on Tuesday alleged a “Congress-BJP conspiracy” behind the order.
