‘I’ve not received ED’s letter’; Pinarayi denies giving any undue favour to CMRL during tenure as CM

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan said the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is levelling new allegations against him in the CMRL issue with a political motive. The ED has sent a letter to the State Police Chief seeking registration of a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The ED had submitted a report of 25 pages. Pinarayi said that when the ED sends a letter to the state police chief, it would normally not become public immediately. However, in this case, the letter has come out and the ED itself was responsible for making it public. He also said that he had not received either the ED's letter or any notice from the agency.

‘The ED had alleged that the CMRL paid money to Exalogic without receiving any services. Based on this, the Serious Fraud Investigation office (SFIO) alleged that CMRL had suffered a financial loss and this led to an investigation. The ED is now claiming that the payment was a consideration for undue benefits allegedly received by the company. During my tenure as the chief minister, I did not provide any undue favour to CMRL. No document proving that I had given such a favour has been produced anywhere so far.

CMRL itself had clarified that the money paid to Exalogic was for the services rendered. The high court had rejected the allegation of providing undue assistance to CMRL when serving as the chief minister. The vigilance court had also already considered the matter and taken a decision, pointing that the complainant had failed to produce sufficient facts and documents to substantiate the allegations.

The high court dismissed the pleas, stating that there were insufficient facts to register a case based on the allegations. The court observed that initiating a criminal investigation against a public servant solely on the basis of suspicions could have serious consequences for his dignity and public life. The Supreme Court also declined to interfere with the high court's order. The issues that have already been examined by three courts are now being brought back in a new form. The ED is trying to give a new political interpretation, Pinarayi Vijayan said at the press meet convened.