Fabricated lies: Pinarayi Vijayan's son-in-law slams ED over money laundering case

CPI(M) MLA PA Muhammad Riyas, the son-in-law of former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, on Thursday rejected allegations said to have emerged from the Enforcement Directorate's probe in the CMRL money laundering case, calling them fabricated and aimed at defaming him. He said he would fight the matter legally.

His response came after reports said the ED had written to DGP Ravada A Chandrasekhar seeking registration of an FIR against Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter Veena T, Riyas and some others, based on material gathered during its probe and searches under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

Reports also claimed the ED had found that Rs 20 crore was transferred abroad by Veena through Riyas's friends. The Left Democratic Front said it would face the issue both politically and legally.

Riyas, a former tourism minister and Vijayan's son-in-law, was responding to reports linked to the alleged Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited bribery case. The ED has alleged that CMRL made fraudulent payments of Rs 2.78 crore to Veena's now-defunct company, Exalogic Solutions, under the guise of 'IT consultancy services'.

The agency had searched premises linked to Veena in May and later questioned her. At the time, she was living with Vijayan at a rented accommodation in Thiruvananthapuram.

In a social media post, Riyas said the allegations, if they were part of a report allegedly leaked by the ED, were 'fabricated lies' meant to tarnish his image.

He also denied reports that Veena had admitted to the allegations before the ED, calling them 'blatant lies'. "Let those who enjoy feeding on the flesh of living people and relish such absurdities leaked in the name of an ED investigation continue their game. I will fight it legally," Riyas said.

Meanwhile, LDF convenor TP Ramakrishnan told reporters that the CPI(M) and the Left Front would deal with the issue politically and legally. He said no court or investigating agency had so far stated that any wrongdoing had taken place, and alleged that the developments were aimed at creating unnecessary suspicion among the public and weakening the CPI(M) and the Left.

"It is true that we, the LDF and the CPI(M), suffered a setback in the recent elections. We have acknowledged that during our review. After identifying the reasons and rebuilding as a stronger movement, the CPI(M) is returning with the confidence of the people," he said.

Asked about allegations that Vijayan and Riyas had illegally accumulated Rs 20 crore in assets and transferred the money to Dubai, Ramakrishnan said that if the claims were not fabricated and there was evidence of wrongdoing, authorities could act. "If it isn't fabricated, let them arrest (them)," he said, while insisting that Riyas and other CPI(M) leaders had done nothing wrong.

He also alleged that the charges were being fabricated as part of a conspiracy to target CPI(M) leaders, questioned why similar action was not being taken against BJP leaders over alleged corruption, and asked Congress to clarify its stand on the ED when its national leadership was protesting against central agencies.

Ramakrishnan also said that if there was a dispute involving financial transactions or alleged wrongdoing between two companies, it should be resolved between the companies concerned rather than through what he called 'crooked paths' to keep the issue alive in the media.

He described the ED's actions as a 'witch-hunt' against Vijayan, questioned the need to raid his residence again, and said that if the agency had enough evidence, it could have registered a case against him and arrested him.