Keralam MLA Riyas accuses ED of creating a 'well-crafted script'

KOZHIKODE: CPM state secretariat member P A Mohamed Riyas on Tuesday accused the ED of creating “a well-crafted script” by levelling unsubstantiated claims in the alleged hawala transaction case.

“The ED is preparing a good script. The person who wrote it should be given an award at the national level,” the former minister told mediapersons in Kozhikode. He also termed reports that Veena had admitted to conducting hawala transaction “a blatant lie”. He said the ED questioned Veena three times, but there had not been a single query about hawala transactions. Despite this, he alleged, a fabricated story of a “confessional statement” was being circulated.

On the controversy surrounding a “red book”, Riyas said it was actually a planner Veena prepared in connection with plans for a future business venture.

“Veena gave the ED a clear statement on the document’s contents and insisted that it had no connection to money laundering. The ED still raided the residences and establishments of people mentioned in the document,” he said.

He alleged that signing documents listing the items confiscated during a raid was being deliberately portrayed as a “confessional statement”.

The MLA also defended the creation of a WhatsApp group in his Beypore constituency, saying there was nothing unusual about it. “MLAs routinely create such groups to share information on development activities and other constituency- related matters, with people from different sections participating. The contents of the chats will make the group’s purpose clear,” Riyas said.

ED QUESTIONS CMRL GM AS IT PREPARES CHARGESHEET

Kochi: The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday questioned CMRL general manager Manohardas as part of its money-laundering probe into the alleged financial transactions between Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) and Exalogic Solutions, with the agency preparing to file its chargesheet in the case. Manohardas appeared before the ED at its Kochi office.

The agency had in recent days widened its questioning of CMRL officials and other persons connected with the company as it works to complete the investigation.

The questioning of senior CMRL officials comes after the ED examined the role of the company’s auditors. The agency had summoned and questioned the auditors last week as part of its probe into the financial transactions and alleged irregularities at CMRL. The development comes days after the ED’s findings in the case triggered a separate legal process in Keralam.