Karuvannur: CPM Thrissur district secretary questioned

KOCHI: CPM Thrissur District Secretary MM Varghese has been questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the Karuvannur Service Co-operative bank fraud case. He reached the ED office yesterday at 9.45 am and returned at 8 pm. Varghese was summoned as a witness with a notice.

A team appointed by the CPM district committee had conducted an investigation into the fraud that took place in Karuvannur Bank. ED asked for information about the party level action taken against the bank board members based on the investigation report. It is reported that the party leaders involved in the fraud have also been investigated about. MM Varghese had applied to be exempted from appearing yesterday, but the ED did not allow it. Varghese, who reached the ED office, told the media that he would cooperate with the investigation. He said that he has no connection with black money transaction.

The ED concluded that the fraud was done with the knowledge of the district and state leaders of the CPM. ED had told the court that a parliamentary committee was functioning to control the governance of the bank and sanction loans. After filing the first chargesheet, ED is continuing its probe into political and high-profile connections in the scam.