Politics · India Bureau
CPI(M) leader Riyas denies hawala charges against wife, CM's daughter
Kerala Communist leader Mohamed Riyas has rejected allegations of illegal money transfers involving his wife and the daughter of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, saying documents seized by authorities relate to a legitimate business venture.
LSN India ·
Mohamed Riyas, a senior Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader in Kerala, has dismissed claims of hawala transactions linked to his wife and T. Veena, daughter of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The allegations surfaced during an Enforcement Directorate investigation into the CMRL-Exalogic payment controversy.
Riyas characterised the handwritten notes discovered by ED officials during their probe as preliminary sketches for a prospective business endeavour that Veena was considering. He contended that these documents had been misinterpreted and did not constitute evidence of illegal financial dealings.
The ED investigation has been examining financial irregularities in transactions between CMRL, a state infrastructure company, and Exalogic, a private firm. The case has drawn heightened scrutiny given the involvement of individuals with close ties to Kerala's political establishment.
The CPI(M) leader's statement comes as opposition parties and civil society groups have called for a transparent investigation into the matter. State officials have not yet issued a formal response to Riyas's clarification.