ED seeks FIR against ex-Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, daughter in bribery case

The Enforcement Directorate has written to Kerala Director General of Police seeking registration of an FIR against former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter T Veena and son-in-law PA Mohammed Riyas in connection with the CMRL-linked alleged bribery case, official sources said on Tuesday.

The agency sent the communication under Section 66(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, citing findings from its investigation.

Sources told PTI that the ED has asked for a police case against Vijayan, Veena, Riyas and some others on the basis of material recovered during its probe and searches in the case.

Under the anti-money laundering law, this provision allows the agency to share its findings with a law enforcement body for registration of a fresh FIR or complaint, on the basis of which the ED can also proceed under the PMLA.

The ED has alleged that Kerala mining firm Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd 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 raided Veena in June at the rented accommodation in Thiruvananthapuram where she was living with Vijayan, and later questioned her.

In a statement issued in August, the ED had said some "handwritten" notes were seized during searches against Veena and that these contained details of certain fund transfers to Dubai.

Riyas, a CPI(M) leader and Veena's husband, had said that he and the party would politically and legally deal with the ED case, including the searches carried out at their homes and at the businesses of people linked to them.

CPI(M) state secretary MV Govindan had also expressed a similar view and claimed that the ED was now trying to target Riyas.

Vijayan had described the ED case against his daughter as a political vendetta.