THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a letter to the Prime Minister, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the central agencies in Kerala are conducting an investigation without justice, fairness, or decency to find ways to blame the state government. Central agencies have every right to find out the truth of allegations. However, moving beyond their powers would undermine the impartiality and credibility of the investigating agencies, he said. The CM asked the Prime Minister to intervene and take corrective action in this regard.

In the federal system, constitutional powers and boundaries are set for central agencies. Central agencies do not have the power to deviate from what is to be investigated and to find fault with the government. The credibility of the agencies will be completely lost by deviating from the subject of the investigation in order to find something. It will hamper the development programs of the government. It will hamper the morale of honest and hard-working officials. This misguided approach of the investigating agencies is a serious administrative problem faced by the government. The Chief Minister pointed out that this could never be accepted in a democratic-federal system.

The Chief Minister recalled that he had written a letter to the Prime Minister on July 8 regarding the smuggling of gold at the Thiruvananthapuram airport in June 2020. ED started the probe in gold smuggling based on the case registered by NIA. However, ED later diverted their path following the allegation that the contractor had paid commission to some of the accused in connection with the Vadakkancherry Life housing project. This was a project funded by the UAE Red Crescent.

The project consisting of 140 houses and a women and child hospital was being implemented using the funds of Red Crescent through a contractor of their choice. The project is being implemented as part of the Life Mission, which provides housing to the homeless.

According to the complaint filed by a Congress MLA in Kerala the Life Mission project, the CBI registered an FIR in the case. The FIR was filed in a hurry without following procedures and conducting a preliminary investigation. The case was taken up against the unknown officers of the Life Mission. However, permission was not sought from the state government to start the investigation.

The case was registered on the charge of violation of FCRA. This is a project funded by the Red Crescent. They also determined the contractor. A memorandum of understanding has also been signed between the UAE consulate and the contractor. Life Mission only informed the terms and conditions regarding the construction of houses. Besides, Life Mission has no direct role in this project.

The Kerala High Court itself has pointed out that there is no justification for including Life Mission in FIR in the case filed under the FCRA conditions or the facts presented before the court. CBI The investigation was stayed for two months. ED asked to produce full documents relating to Life Mission in violation of all jurisdictions. The summons was issued in violation of even the Supreme Court orders. Apart from this, all the documents related to the major projects of the Government of Kerala such as K-Phone and Electric Vehicle were demanded by the ED.

ED also launched a blind investigation into KIIFB, which has provided significant support for Kerala's development projects. The Chief Minister also pointed out the inconsistencies in the investigation. ED initially told the court that the money found in the bank locker of one of the accused was obtained from a gold smuggler. Later the agency gave a report that the money was received by the contractor through the commission.

Agencies that need to conduct effective and coordinated investigations into gold smuggling are doing everything else. The statements of the accused and witnesses are conveniently selected and leaked to the media.

When a summons is issued it becomes news in the media before the person concerned receives it. With the help of some investigating officers, there is a planned and continuous campaign to discredit the government and those leading the government.

Leaking of the contents of confidential statements before a magistrate is evidence of this. Five months later, the source or recipient of the gold has not been identified. Accused living abroad or the suspects in the case have not been apprehended yet. The CM also pointed out that the investigative agencies were working to tarnish the image of the state government without fulfilling this responsibility.