The CMRL-Exalogic case has taken a new turn, with State Advocate General K. Jaju Babu informing the state government that cases may be registered against former chief minister and CPM supremo Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter Veena Vijayan, and son-in-law and former minister Mohammed Riyas. The legal advice says that if the ED’s letter contains substantial evidence, an FIR may be registered and an investigation carried out.
The development comes after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) demanded the registration of a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The Advocate General’s report says that if there is necessary evidence in the ED’s letter, a preliminary enquiry will be carried out before registering an FIR.
Since the ED had handed over the letter to the State Police Chief, the legal advice has also been handed over to the Police Department.
The Advocate General had reportedly held an online discussion with Chief Minister V.D. Satheeshan and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala on September 17 night. Consequently, he spoke to Director General of Prosecution T. Asaf Ali and Additional Advocate General Mohammed Shah before taking the final decision.
The ED’s letter was thoroughly studied before taking the decision, and the names of Pinarayi Vijayan, Veena Vijayan and Mohammed Riyas are listed in the letter.
Until now, Pinarayi Vijayan and his son-in-law and former minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas have been maintaining that they are innocent and that there is no scope for any case. The CPM has also been repeating the same argument.
The CPM has been vehemently opposing the idea of an investigation into the CMRL-Exalogic case. The Communists have blamed the ED for acting as a tool in the hands of the BJP and the Congress-led state government.
The party goons went to the extent of unleashing a violent attack against ED officials on May 27, while they were returning after raiding Pinarayi Vijayan’s residence in Tiruvananthapuram. Later all the accused were facing police cases.
Meanwhile, BJP Keralam has been criticising the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government, headed by Chief Minister V.D. Satheeshan, for dilly-dallying in taking action in connection with the CMRL-Exalogic case.
Now, as the Advocate General has given the green signal to go ahead, the politics of the state are awaiting the decisions to be taken by CM V.D. Satheeshan and HM Ramesh Chennithala.
