Alappuzha (Kerala), Sep 9 (IANS) Kerala’s Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the Enforcement Directorate, saying it was a shame that an agency like it was making baseless allegations against him.
It was Vijayan’s first public statement after the ED on Tuesday forwarded its findings and supporting material to the state police chief under Section 66(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, seeking registration of a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act and other applicable laws against him, his daughter T. Veena, and son-in-law and former minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas, among others.
Breaking his silence on the ED findings for the first time, Vijayan said the agency had failed to find anything substantial to support its allegations and was acting at the behest of its political masters.
“It is a shame that an agency like the ED is making such baseless allegations. Its only aim is to somehow level an allegation against me. But it has not been able to find anything substantial to support it,” he said after inaugurating the CPI(M) Mannar area committee office, near here.
Vijayan said the political witch-hunting against him in Kerala had been going on for years.
But the political forces seeking to destroy him had failed to achieve their objective, he said.
He described the ED allegations concerning his daughter Veena as ridiculous. Vijayan said Veena had worked for Oracle after completing her studies.
She later left the job after her marriage and worked in a leading company abroad.
Later she started an enterprise of her own.
“She could have continued there (abroad) and earned a substantial salary. Instead, she chose to start an enterprise of her own,” he said.
Vijayan said allegations had earlier been raised that her company had provided IT services to an institution run by religious extremists.
He said he had then warned that those who raised such allegations would themselves face the consequences.
He said payments received by Veena from CMRL for services rendered were made through proper bank accounts and all applicable taxes were paid.
“These are matters supported by clear documentary evidence,” he said.
Vijayan took particular exception to the ED’s contention that Veena had received money on his behalf and that the money was subsequently routed abroad through Mohammed Riyas, his son-in-law, a former Minister and presently a CPI-M legislator.
“What makes this even more ridiculous is that, according to the ED’s own findings, the money Veena received was paid years before Mohammed Riyas became her husband. At the time these professional fees she and her company received, Riyas was not even her husband,” he said.
Vijayan also hit out at sections of the media for publishing headlines claiming that he had received Rs 3 crore as a bribe.
“Will people believe something merely because it is published in large letters? My life cannot be brought to an end by reports published out of the anger and hatred of the media. My life has always been an open book before the people,” he said.
–IANS
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