Daijiworld Media Network - Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 8: In a major political development in Kerala, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday asked State Police Chief Ravada Chandrasekhar to register an FIR under the Prevention of Corruption Act against Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter T. Veena and her husband, former minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas, in connection with the CMRL monthly payment case.
The ED has also forwarded details of evidence gathered during its investigation into the financial transactions between Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) and Veena's IT firm, Exalogic Solutions, and sought action against Veena and Riyas under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The development came at a politically sensitive time for the CPI-M. The ED communication became public as the party's top state leadership was holding a closed-door meeting to finalise preparations for its three-day extended state committee meeting, scheduled to begin Saturday in Kozhikode.
Around 300 party leaders are expected to participate in the meeting, which will examine the CPI-M's severe electoral setback, organisational weaknesses and the political strategy adopted by its leadership.
State Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala confirmed that the police chief had received the ED letter.
"I spoke to the state police chief. He told me 10 minutes ago that he had received the letter from the ED. Now he will have to look into it and decide the course of action. We will wait for him to act," he said.
The DGP is expected to examine the communication and decide on further action. The letter is also likely to be forwarded to the state government, which may seek legal advice before taking a decision.
The ED's latest move assumes significance as its investigation into the alleged payments made by CMRL to Exalogic has already brought Vijayan's family under scrutiny. The agency has alleged that the payments were not linked to genuine services and has relied on statements, documents and digital evidence collected during its probe.
The demand for an FIR now puts the UDF government in a politically sensitive position. Registering a case against Vijayan would mark a major escalation in the controversy surrounding the former Chief Minister and his family. However, any decision not to act could expose the Congress-led government to allegations from the BJP that it is shielding the CPI-M leader.
The development is also likely to overshadow the CPI-M's upcoming extended state committee meeting, which was expected to focus primarily on the reasons behind the party's electoral collapse.
BJP state Vice President Shone George, the primary petitioner in the case, said the development had raised questions over Vijayan's continuation as Leader of the Opposition.
"The need of the hour is for Vijayan to realise that he has no moral ground to remain as Leader of the Opposition and quit. This post has been occupied by giants in the CPI-M. He has no other option but to resign," George said.
The allegations now involve Vijayan, Veena and Riyas, who served as a minister in the previous government and is currently an MLA. Any decision by the state police or government on the ED's request is therefore likely to carry political consequences beyond the immediate legal proceedings.
For the CPI-M, the timing is particularly uncomfortable. Even as its senior leaders prepare to deliberate on the party's electoral defeat, a fresh demand for criminal proceedings against its most prominent leader has brought the CMRL controversy back to centre stage.