Daijiworld Media Network - Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 17: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday pasted a five-page notice at the rented residence of former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan here, directing him to appear before the agency in Kochi on Friday.

According to reports, ED officials pasted the notice at the entrance after nobody at the residence accepted it. The agency had earlier sent the notice by post.

The development triggered a political reaction, with senior CPI(M) leader and former state minister V. Sivankutty reaching the residence after learning about the ED officials’ visit.

Speaking to the media, Sivankutty said ED officials had initially visited the house and enquired about Vijayan. The staff informed them that the former Chief Minister was not present and was in Kannur, he said.

The officials subsequently returned with a few police personnel. They informed those present that since nobody was willing to accept the notice, they had no option but to paste it at the entrance, Sivankutty said.

Questioning the agency’s action, Sivankutty said Vijayan’s whereabouts were known and that the officials could have travelled to Kannur to serve the notice in person.

“I fail to understand why the ED acted in this manner when Vijayan is in Kannur, and his whereabouts are known to everyone. If they wanted, they could have gone to Kannur and met him,” he said.

Sivankutty termed the action serious, arguing that the matter was before the Supreme Court and alleging that the agency was acting beyond its brief.

Asked whether Vijayan would appear before the ED in Kochi on Friday as directed in the notice, Sivankutty declined to speculate.

“That you have to ask him,” the former minister said.

The notice was pasted at the same residence where ED officials had conducted a raid a few months ago and recovered a red diary. The diary is understood to have raised further questions for Vijayan, a two-time former Chief Minister who is currently the Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly.

ED officials, however, described pasting the notice at the premises as a normal procedure when the recipient or those present at the residence refuse to accept it.