Kozhikode (Keralam) | CPI(M) leader P A Mohamed Riyas on Tuesday rejected reports alleging that his wife, Veena T, admitted to hawala transactions before the ED, claiming these were attempts to defame her.

Veena is the daughter of former Chief Minister and CPI(M) senior Politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan.

Riyas, speaking to reporters here, further contended that the "scribblings" that were found by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in May this year during its probe into the alleged CMRL bribery case were related to a future business endeavour Veena was planning.

The former state minister and current MLA from Beypore also questioned the timing of the release of such reports -- when the extended state committee meeting of the CPI(M) was set to conclude.

He claimed that as earlier attempts of the ED to implicate him in connection with hawala transactions failed, the agency was now levelling such accusations against a group created in relation to development work in his constituency.

"Some reports are claiming that Veena has admitted to hawala transactions. It is pure nonsense and lies. The scribblings only refer to a future business she was planning. She has not admitted to any black money. Such allegations are aimed at defaming her," he contended.

He said that he had been legally advised not to speak about every minute detail of the allegations against her.

"However, these allegations will be dealt with legally," he asserted.

His reaction came shortly after media reports that the ED, in a letter sent to the Keralam Director General of Police, had cited entries from a 'red book' recovered from Veena during a raid at her rented residence had evidence.

According to the reports, the agency claimed that the notes and money details in the book related to alleged hawala transfers to Dubai by Veena and her husband Riyas.

The ED had recently sent a letter to DGP Ravada A Chandrasekhar seeking registration of an FIR against Vijayan, Veena, Riyas and some others in connection with the alleged CMRL bribery case on the basis of "evidence" gathered during its probe and searches conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The ED has alleged that Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) made fraudulent payments of Rs 2.78 crore to Veena's now-defunct company, Exalogic Solutions, under the guise of "IT consultancy services".

The federal agency had searched premises linked to Veena, who was living with Vijayan at a rented accommodation in Thiruvananthapuram, in June and subsequently questioned her.