New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram | Senior BJP leader K Surendran on Saturday alleged that Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan is maintaining silence on the ongoing ED investigation against Veena T, daughter of CPI(M) leader Pinarayi Vijayan, as several UDF leaders were also allegedly involved in the CMRL money laundering case.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) money laundering case relates to Keralam-based mining company Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) and Exalogic Solutions, a company promoted by Veena and now defunct.

The probe relates to allegations that CMRL paid Rs 2.78 crore to Exalogic Solutions Pvt Ltd without receiving any services in return.

Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Surendran alleged that the Satheesan government, which had been in power for the past three months, was following the same policies as the previous LDF government and that the LDF and UDF had an identical stance on every issue.

He alleged that Satheesan, while serving as the Opposition Leader, had repeatedly questioned why the probe into the case involving Vijayan and his family was progressing slowly, is now maintaining a "suspicious silence".

"Now, when the ED investigation is progressing strongly, and several serious pieces of evidence and findings are coming to light, V D Satheesan says he was not reacting to it in his capacity as Chief Minister," Surendran said.

He alleged that the reason for Satheesan's silence is the possibility that several prominent UDF leaders would also face investigation if the case proceeded in the "right direction".

"The BJP's position was that the CMRL case involved both the LDF and UDF, with leaders of both fronts allegedly receiving bribes and monthly payoffs from the company," Surendran said.

Surendran also alleged that the LDF-UDF "undercurrent" remained active in Keralam and that both fronts had equal involvement in corruption cases.

He alleged that in the CMRL case, hawala transactions had taken place and that money was sent from Keralam to the Gulf and deposited into various bank accounts there.

Responding to a question on CPI(M) allegations of selective investigation by central agencies exempting the BJP, Surendran asked whether there was any complaint or case in that regard.

"(CPI-M State Secretary) M V Govindan Master has lost his mind. The party is sinking into the Arabian Sea. So naturally, as a secretary, he is talking nonsense," he said.