Thiruvananthapuram | The Keralam Home Department on Wednesday constituted an SIT to inquire into allegations against former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his family in connection with the CMRL-Exalogic case, sources said here.

The inquiry will be supervised by Crime Branch ADGP H Venkitesh, they said.

Superintendent of Police Vikraman is the inquiry officer. The SIT comprises three deputy SPs and six Circle Inspectors, they added.

The Special Investigation Team was constituted a day after the UDF government ordered a police inquiry, without registering an FIR, based on the ED's report seeking action against veteran CPI(M) leader Vijayan, his daughter Veena T, her husband (former minister) P A Mohamed Riyas and others over alleged financial transactions between CMRL and Exalogic.

Earlier in the day, Keralam Chief Minister V D Satheesan defended the state government's decision to order an inquiry into the allegations against Vijayan and his family members, saying it was based on legal advice and Supreme Court judgments and was not aimed at targeting anyone.

The ED had sought registration of an FIR against Vijayan, his family members and others over alleged financial transactions involving Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited, a private mining firm, and Exalogic, a now-defunct IT firm owned by Veena.