Satheesan Slams CPM For Blaming Rahul Instead Of PM Over ED Raids
Satheesan Slams Pinarayi for Targeting Rahul Gandhi Over ED Raids
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan on Friday criticised Opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan and the CPM for blaming Rahul Gandhi over the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids in Kerala related to the Cochin Minerals and Rutiles Ltd (CMRL) case.
Breaking his silence on Wednesday’s raids, Satheesan expressed surprise at Vijayan targeting Rahul Gandhi instead of the Prime Minister, Union home minister, or the minister in charge of the ED.
The raids were tied to allegations that CMRL illegally paid ₹1.72 crore to Vijayan’s daughter Veena T’s company, Exalogic Solutions between 2017 and 2020 without any services rendered.
Satheesan also reminded Vijayan that Rahul Gandhi had been questioned by the ED for 55 hours, during which he had cooperated and stated it was a politically motivated case, and no violence occurred against ED officials.
“The High Court allowed the ED probe to continue, dismissing the petition to halt it. The very next morning, raids were conducted at several houses. ED is a Central agency and what role does the state government have here? Can we dictate who the ED should or shouldn’t probe, especially when the court itself has permitted their action,” Satheesan asked.
He scoffed at the CPM’s allegation that the raids were ordered by the Kerala Chief Minister after meeting the Prime Minister in Delhi, saying, “What a joke!”
On the ED raid-related violence in Thiruvananthapuram, the Chief Minister criticised the central agency for not informing the state government or police about the raids at multiple locations across Kerala. He said officials only learned of the situation from TV channels and commended home minister Ramesh Chennithala for directing police to maintain order and apprehend the accused.
“It’s not difficult for the police to raid any place, including political party offices, to arrest those involved in criminal activity. But they acted responsibly, and all the accused are being dealt with according to the law,” he said.
Responding to allegations that two ministers in his Cabinet had also taken money from CMRL, Satheesan said, “I have addressed this issue on the floor of the house. All political parties and their leaders take money from big industrialists for party work. But the case involving Vijayan’s daughter is completely different. Her IT company received money after reaching an agreement with CMRL to provide client services. However, ED believes that the money given to her amounts to money laundering and falls under the PMLA,” he said.
