Monthly pay-off case: Vigilance may register case against Pinarayi, Riyas and Veena on Monday

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) is likely to register a case on Monday against Pinarayi Vijayan, Mohammed Riyas and T. Veena in connection with the monthly pay-off controversy. The move follows a High Court order. The government is considering assigning the investigation to the Special Investigation Unit in Thiruvananthapuram.

Since the headquarters of Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL), which made the payments, is in Kochi, the investigation will also be conducted there. Officers from different units are likely to be included in the team as the probe will cover multiple districts.

The Crime Branch has handed over to the VACB the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) report concerning Pinarayi Vijayan, along with related documents. An FIR has been prepared on the instructions of Vigilance Director Manoj Abraham. Pinarayi Vijayan is likely to be named the first accused.

Pinarayi Vijayan and others are also expected to approach a Division Bench of the High Court on Monday, challenging the order to register a case. Their appeal is likely to argue that the order was issued without hearing their side.

In its letter to the Director General of Police (DGP), the ED had raised allegations of hawala transactions, bribery, abuse of power, corruption and money laundering. These allegations are expected to figure in the FIR. However, the ED alone can investigate hawala transactions and money laundering under the relevant laws. Once the VACB registers the FIR, the ED is expected to register an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) based on it and begin its investigation.

The VACB has also stated that if the investigation brings to light additional offences, cases will be registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

ED proceeds cautiously in monthly pay-off case

With the High Court order clearing the way for a direct investigation into the monthly pay-off case involving Pinarayi Vijayan and P.A. Mohammed Riyas, the Enforcement Directorate has begun preparing for further action.

Senior ED officials have examined the High Court order. The Kochi unit has been instructed to proceed cautiously. According to ED sources, Pinarayi Vijayan, Mohammed Riyas and those whose premises were raided in Kozhikode will be questioned. The agency will also investigate the trail of the money received.

The ED registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with a corporate fraud case registered by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO). The agency concluded that the money paid to Exalogic Solutions, owned by T. Veena, for services that were allegedly not provided was a bribe paid to Pinarayi Vijayan, who was then the Chief Minister.

The ED had asked the state police to investigate the matter under the Prevention of Corruption Act. However, the investigation had proceeded without an FIR being registered, a development that reportedly caused dissatisfaction within the ED. The High Court order has now paved the way for further action, bringing relief to ED officials.