Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 27 (PTI) Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said on Sunday that an FIR cannot be lodged merely because the Enforcement Directorate wants one, and that the government had ordered a preliminary enquiry into the alleged CMRL bribery case owing to a lack of clarity on certain issues.
At the same time, Chennithala said the government was not opposed to registering an FIR against former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in connection with the case, but decided to first order a preliminary enquiry as recommended by the Advocate General.
Speaking to reporters, Chennithala said the government’s stand was submitted before the Kerala High Court on Saturday.
“We are not against lodging a case. However, based on the legal opinion we received from the Advocate General, we decided that further steps can be taken after a preliminary enquiry into the allegations raised by the Enforcement Directorate, as there was a lack of clarity regarding some matters,” he said.
The Keralam Home Department on Wednesday constituted a Special Investigation Team to inquire into allegations against Vijayan, his daughter Veena T and her husband (former minister) P A Mohamed Riyas in connection with the CMRL-Exalogic case.
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 (CMRL), a private mining firm, and Exalogic, a now-defunct IT firm owned by Veena.
Chennithala said an FIR cannot be registered merely because the Enforcement Directorate has sought one and that the government had acted in accordance with the legal opinion it received.
“Let the things go on in the court,” he added.
The Kerala High Court on Saturday directed the ED to submit the records it had provided to the Keralam police while recommending registration of a case against Vijayan and his family in the alleged CMRL bribery case.
The ED has sought registration of a case based on “evidence” gathered during its probe and searches conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
The agency has alleged that Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited made fraudulent payments of Rs 2.78 crore to Veena’s now-defunct company Exalogic Solutions under the guise of “IT consultancy services”.
The court will hear the matter next on September 29. PTI HMP SSK
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