Kannur (Keralam) | UDF-backed Independent MLA, T K Govindan, on Monday said the ED move seeking an FIR by the Keralam government against Pinarayi Vijayan and others under the anti-graft law is a "strategy" to create a rift between members of the INDIA bloc.
Govindan, a former CPI(M) leader, claimed that it shows the "ill intention" of the BJP.
Apparently referring to certain UDF leaders' stand on the ED move, the independent MLA from Taliparamba said it was not right to welcome the agency's action against Vijayan while criticising similar action by it against others.
He said that the ED's moves were "completely politically motivated" as it was controlled by the Centre and functioned as its "tool".
"Let them investigate if Vijayan's daughter Veena T made money through wrong means. But there is a method to carrying out the probe.
"If they carry it out with the aim to catch Vijayan, then the agency is losing its credibility," he contended while speaking to a TV channel.
WIth regard to the ED letter to the State Police Chief to register a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act against Vijayan, Veena and her husband P A Mohamed Riyas, Govindan termed it a "strategy" of the agency.
He claimed that the ED can register a case on its own and questioned why it wanted the state government to do so.
"It is aimed at creating a rift between two members of the INDIA bloc. It shows the BJP's ill intention," he alleged.
The ED has sent a letter to DGP Ravada A Chandrasekhar seeking registration of an FIR against Vijayan, Veena, Riyas and some others in connection with an 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.