Kerala Forms SIT to Probe ED Findings in Hawala Case Involving Pinarayi Vijayan
Kerala has set up a Special Investigation Team to examine ED findings in a hawala case linked to former CM Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter Veena T and ex-minister Mohammed Riyas.
The Kerala government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine the Enforcement Directorate's findings in the "monthly payment" case involving Cochin Minerals and Rutiles Limited, with alleged hawala transactions expected to be at the centre of the probe.
The investigation will focus on former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter Veena T, and former minister Mohammed Riyas, who is Veena's spouse.
The SIT will operate under the supervision of the Crime Branch ADGP. SP Vikraman has been named the investigating officer, and Deputy Superintendents will be part of the team. The state police chief issued the order forming the SIT, directing that the preliminary inquiry be completed within 30 days.
The team will begin with the findings and material shared by the Enforcement Directorate, and the alleged hawala transactions flagged by the central agency are expected to form a key part of the investigation.
The decision to set up the SIT came 15 days after the Enforcement Directorate formally wrote to the Kerala government seeking action on its findings. The government received legal advice that a case could be registered against the former Chief Minister under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, but it decided to conduct a preliminary investigation before taking a call on registering a case.
The move followed discussions between Chief Minister VD Satheesan and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala. Chennithala had also summoned senior police officers on Tuesday to discuss the possible course of action. Subsequently, the Additional Chief Secretary of the Home Department forwarded instructions to the DGP to form an investigation team. DGP Ravada Chandrasekhar had earlier indicated that a preliminary inquiry would be conducted first, with a specific timeframe fixed for its completion.
The SIT will now examine the ED's findings and determine whether there is sufficient material to proceed with registering a criminal case. The BJP has alleged that the Congress-led UDF is trying to protect the former Chief Minister by not filing an FIR.