Garment export firm in Dubai; Page 19 of ED report reveals crucial details against Riyas, Veena

KOCHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) stated that Veena Vijayan aimed to start a garment export business in Dubai using funds routed through the hawala network. Friends of her husband, former minister Mohammed Riyas, had considered investing in the business.

This detail appears on page 19 of the ED report, submitted to the State Police Chief, seeking an investigation under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The ED states that it obtained information about the business from the statement of Mohammed Shaijal (also known as Shajilal), a native of Kozhikode, during a raid conducted on August 18. Shaijal testified that Mohammed Riyas had personally instructed him to work on a venture that would generate income for Veena Vijayan. A plan was formulated for a garment export firm named 'Morackprime'. V.P. Faijas, Mohammed Riyas, Veena Vijayan, and Shaijal travelled to Dubai and held discussions. Shaijal informed Veena that his close relative, K. Warish, would invest money in the company.

The WhatsApp group chats on the mobile phone seized from Warish, a native of Kozhikode, mention money smuggled through hawala. The report describes that the statements of Shaijal, Warish and others clarify the general purpose of the transactions involving Mohammad Riyas’ family.

Warish testified that, acting on instructions from Mohammed Riyas, unidentified individuals visited his office and handed over money during June and July 2024. He further stated that Rs 1.2 crore was transferred to Faijas V.P. in Dubai through hawala agent Zubair Karuvampoyil on July 3, 20, 22, and 23, 2024, as well as on July 5 of the previous year.

The ED further claims that the entries Veena made in her 'Red Book' and on plain paper recorded the siphoning of this illicit wealth abroad or its conversion into private assets through *benami* individuals.