Kerala to examine ED letter seeking FIR against Pinarayi Vijayan

The Kerala government will decide on the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) request to register an FIR against former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and others, Chief Minister V Satheesan said on Wednesday. He said the state government will examine the central agency's report and stressed that there is "no politics" involved.

Speaking after a cabinet meeting, Satheesan said the government will legally scrutinise the report and take a decision accordingly. "We have to scrutinise the seriousness of the allegations made by the ED. We cannot reject it merely because ED has sent it," he said.

The ED has asked the state police to register a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act against Vijayan, who is now the Leader of the Opposition, his daughter T Veena, son-in-law Mohammed Riyas, and others. The case relates to alleged money laundering involving Veena's IT firm.

The agency has alleged that Kochi-based Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) made payments to Veena's firm Exalogic Solutions without receiving any services. The alleged payments, made during Vijayan's first term as Chief Minister, were uncovered during an Income Tax Department probe. The ED has claimed that Exalogic Solutions received Rs 2.78 crore from CMRL as purported IT consultancy payments.

The ED had earlier searched Vijayan's premises in May and also searched eight locations linked to CPM leaders in Kozhikode district, where Riyas hails from. The agency said it found evidence of money transferred through hawala routes. According to the ED's report to the police, Vijayan allegedly collected Rs 3.28 crore from CMRL as a bribe through Veena.

Satheesan also responded to questions about allegations that some ministers in his UDF government had received money from CMRL. He said political parties and leaders do accept financial contributions from companies, but added that "that is different from this (ED case). ED has not just mentioned receipt of money from CMRL. There is much more in their letter."

Reacting to CPM state secretary M V Govindan's allegation that the Congress and BJP would strike a deal, Satheesan said the Left party was trying to justify its actions. The CPM has termed the ED move "political vendetta" and said it would tackle the matter both legally and politically.