Kozhikode: The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday widened its probe into the “monthly payment” case related to former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s daughter Veena Vijayan, carrying out searches at the residences and offices of four persons described as friends or associates of her husband and former minister Mohammed Riyas, drawing criticism from the CPI-M, which accused the agency of ‘political targeting’.
CPI-M state Secretary M.V. Govindan on Tuesday accused the ED of deliberately creating suspicion in the minds of the people by targeting those closely associated with the party.
“Through this, they can try to create a smoke screen. This is meant to target our party,” Govindan told the media.
His comments came as ED searches at nine locations, including the residences and offices of the four persons concerned, were winding down at most places.
Two of those under the agency’s scanner are CPI-M members, including P. Nikhil, a member of the party’s Kozhikode district Secretariat.
Govindan’s intervention was followed by a show of support from the Kozhikode district leadership.
CPI-M district Secretary M. Mehboob visited Nikhil’s flat while the ED search was under way and said the party would extend both political and legal support to him.
He alleged that the raids were politically motivated and accused both the BJP and Congress of using the ED for political purposes.
“We will face this politically as well as legally,” Mehboob said after speaking to Nikhil, confirming that the party leader was being questioned by the agency.
The ED’s latest operation represents a significant widening of the investigation, which is examining the alleged movement of money from Exalogic, the company associated with Veena Vijayan.
Among those searched is Nandulal, a former DTPC destination coordinator and a close associate of Riyas.
Nikhil, a former DYFI district Secretary who is now engaged in business and heads Solice, is another key figure under scrutiny.
Searches were also conducted at the residences of Shaijal and Faijas, who are also described as Riyas’s friends.
The ED has also searched Nikhil’s ancestral home at Farook in Kozhikode.
Offices and other establishments linked to the investigation have also come under scrutiny.
According to information emerging from the probe, the ED obtained details about Nikhil and the other individuals from a diary belonging to Veena Vijayan, which was recovered in May when the ED came knocking at the rented home of Vijayan — where Veena also resides — in the state capital.
Veena reportedly told investigators that they were friends of Riyas, following which their financial links are being examined.
The latest searches are part of the third major round of ED searches in Kerala in the case.
A four-member team headed by an ED Assistant Director is leading the operation in Kozhikode.
The widening probe has acquired a distinct political dimension because of the links of those searched to Riyas, the CPI-M MLA from Beypore.
The agency’s scrutiny of his circle comes after repeated questioning and searches connected with the financial dealings involving Exalogic and CMRL.
For the CPI-M, the latest action has revived the political sensitivity surrounding the case.
With the latest round of searches yielding additional digital and financial material, the agency is expected to question more people and trace the financial links of those now under its scanner in the days ahead.
(IANS)
