THRISSUR: Former Minister AC Moideen did not appear today for questioning in the Karuvannur Co-operative Bank fraud. He informed ED that he is willing to appear on September 14th. ED had sent him a notice on August 31 asking him to appear for questioning. However, he did not appear that day saying that he was not able to collect the documents requested by ED. Later, the ED sent him another notice asking him to appear on September 4. However, he came to Thiruvananthapuram on Monday to attend the Assembly Fund Audit Committee.

ED had recorded statements of Biju Kareem, PP Kiran, Anil Seth, and Kolazhi Satheesan in connection with the case. ED also recorded the statements of some of the members of the governing body. The party had sought legal advice to deal with further action in the case. A special team is probing the case. This is the first time that ED has moved against a party leader in the state. Therefore, it is reported that Moideen decided to abstain from questioning as per instructions from the party in the context of the Puthuppally by-election.