Thiruvananthapuram, May 27 (IANS). Former Kerala Chief Minister and senior CPI(M) leader Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday came under the scanner of the Enforcement Directorate. Many ED officials of the Central Investigation Agency reached the house of former CM Pinarayi Vijayan in Thiruvananthapuram and raided it. The raid took place in connection with the ongoing investigation into the CMRL-Axalogic monthly payment case.
According to the information received from ED, at present raids are going on at ten places regarding this case.
ED has already recorded the statement of Pinarayi Vijayan’s daughter Veena Vijayan. His IT company Exalogic Solutions is at the center of this controversy.
Although Pinarayi Vijayan has not been interrogated yet, there are indications that the agency may also record his statement as the investigation progresses.
This action started at 6 am on Wednesday. A day before this, the Kerala High Court had given permission to the ED to continue the investigation into the alleged financial transactions between CMRL and Exalogic.
ED teams simultaneously raided 10 places in Kerala. These include Pinarayi Vijayan’s rented house near Bakery Junction in Thiruvananthapuram, where Veena Vijayan also lives.
Searches were also conducted in the office of CMRL and premises belonging to senior officials of the company. Investigators are said to be examining digital devices, financial documents and transaction records related to the alleged monthly payments.
The ED team also reached the house of Beypore CPI(M) MLA PA Mohammad Riyas and interrogated him. He is the husband of Veena Vijayan.
The ED investigation has been initiated based on allegations that Exalogic Solutions received huge sums of money from mining company CMRL without providing any legitimate service.
Earlier, the report of the Serious Fraud Investigation Office and proceedings of the Income Tax Department had also pointed towards suspicious financial transactions which were described as monthly retainers.
On Tuesday, the Kerala High Court rejected the petitions of CMRL and its officials seeking quashing of the ED investigation.
The court said prima facie there were signs of money laundering and refused to interfere in the agency’s investigation. After this, the way for Wednesday’s raid and interrogation was cleared.
This is considered to be one of the biggest investigations against a senior CPI(M) leader in recent years.
The Left Front has been continuously calling this case an act of political vendetta, but the raid in the former Chief Minister’s house by ED has intensified the stir in Kerala politics.
In the coming days, many important people related to the case are likely to be summoned and interrogated.
–IANS
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