Karuvannur Bank fraud: CPM enquiry commission member PK Biju appears before ED

KOCHI: Former MP and CPM state secretariat member PK Biju on Thursday appeared before the Enforcement Directorate in the Karuvannur Bank loan fraud case. PK Biju told the media that he did not know why the ED summoned him and would try to answer their questions.

Biju is appearing before the ED for the first time in connection with the interrogation in the case. According to the ED, Biju has financial dealings with Satheesh Kumar, the main accused in the case. ED also alleged that Biju's amassed assets through black money transactions in Karuvannur.

Apart from PK Biju, Thrissur Corporation councilor and CPM district secretariat member PK Shajan has also been issued a notice by the ED to appear for questioning. Shajan has been instructed to appear at the Kochi office tomorrow. Both were members of the commission of inquiry appointed by the CPM Thrissur District Committee regarding the Karuvannur Bank fraud. CPM did not release the investigation report. The ED asked for the report but the CPM was not ready to hand it over. The ED also aims to get probe-related details from them. The ED also suspects that both of them were involved in sanctioning loans illegally.

Meanwhile, CPM Thrissur District Secretary MM Varghese was issued a notice by ED to appear yesterday but he did not appear. MM Varghese has informed that he will not be able to appear till April 26, but ED has given strict instructions to him to appear tomorrow.