Satheesan says Kerala HC paved way for ED notice to Pinarayi’s daughter

Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan on Wednesday (June 10) said it was the high court that paved the way for the ED notice issued to former CM Pinarayi Vijayan's daughter, Veena T, directing her to appear before the agency, and that the state government cannot dictate the terms of the investigation.

Satheesan was responding to queries at a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram regarding the Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe into the financial dealings between mining company Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) and Veena's now-defunct firm, Exalogic.

ED’s summons and HC verdict

He said that CMRL had approached the Kerala High Court to stop the probe, but the court dismissed both its plea and appeal, paving the way for the ED investigation. "So, how can the Kerala government tell the ED how to carry out the probe?" he asked.

He stated that the CPI(M) can face the issue legally or politically, but it cannot disrupt law and order in the state over it, referring to the attack on the vehicles carrying ED officials. "That will not be allowed in Kerala, and the police will take strict action against it," he asserted.

Also Read: ED summons Pinarayi Vijayan's daughter for questioning in CMRL money-laundering case

The ED has summoned Veena and CMRL officials for questioning in a money-laundering case. Officials said Veena has been asked to appear at the agency's zonal office on June 12, where her statement will be recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

Views on alleged UDF-BJP deal

When reporters sought his views on the alleged UDF-BJP deal being discussed in CPI(M) district meetings reviewing the reasons for the party's Assembly poll defeat, Satheesan contended that it was not the main topic of discussion.

He claimed that, during the meetings, there was strong criticism of Vijayan, party state secretary MV Govindan, former ministers, and the senior CPI(M) leadership for their alleged anti-secular stand.

Ties with Adani

When he was told that Govindan had claimed the CM was not responding to allegations regarding his links to Adani, Satheesan said he was not going to reply to that. Govindan was referring to photographs of Satheesan in Mangaluru with Karnataka Janata Dal (Secular) leader BM Farooq and some of his business associates.

Also Read: BJP is misusing ED to harass and coerce traders to join them: CM Bhagwant Mann

Downplaying the matter, Satheesan said the person he met had family members in Kerala and was a distant relative of the late Congress leader Aryadan Muhammed. "We met at the airport and spoke," the CM said.

On the Munambam issue, which has resurfaced following the State Waqf Board's recent claim that the disputed land was waqf property, Satheesan said that the matter was being discussed with all stakeholders.

The Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development portal is a centralised digital platform launched by the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs for the registration, real-time verification, and monitoring of waqf properties across India.

(With inputs from agencies)