CMRL-Exalogic case: Government orders probe against Pinarayi Vijayan, Mohammed Riyas and T Veena

Thiruvananthapuram: The government has ordered an investigation into former Chief Minister and current Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan based on a report submitted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on the CMRL-Exalogic transactions. An FIR will be registered as part of the investigation.

The decision followed a meeting between Chief Minister VD Satheesan and Home Minister. The Home Department subsequently ordered an investigation into the alleged irregularities in the transactions. The probe will also cover former Public Works Department Minister Mohammed Riyas and his wife, T Veena.

The ED had earlier submitted a report to the State Police Chief seeking an investigation under the Prevention of Corruption Act in connection with the CMRL-Exalogic transactions. The report also contained allegations related to a hawala transaction.

Following the ED report, the government sought legal advice on whether a criminal investigation could be initiated. The Advocate General advised that an investigation could be conducted.

Following discussions between the Chief Minister and Home Minister, the government decided to proceed with the probe. The State Police Chief will decide on the further course of the investigation, including the constitution of the investigating team and other procedural steps.

DGP Rawada Chandrasekhar has stated that the investigation will be conducted in accordance with the government's decision. He clarified his stance after a meeting with the Home Minister.
He added that further proceedings and matters related to the case will depend on discussions with the government. He also mentioned that details regarding the investigation have not been received yet, and he met the Home Minister to discuss other matters.

Instead of handing over the investigation to the Vigilance department, the government is considering assigning the case to the state police. The government primarily intends to investigate the alleged hawala transactions. For this, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) may be formed comprising officials from the Crime Branch and the Economic Offences Wing.

H Venkatesh is likely to lead the investigation team. Officials including Ajitha Begum, who heads the Economic Offences Wing and the Crime Branch's North Zone and is currently overseeing the PSC scam investigation, may also be part of the SIT.

Earlier, the legal advice submitted by the Advocate General (AG) to the Home Department stated that there was no legal impediment to conducting an investigation based on the ED report. However, it pointed out that the decision on the nature and scope of the investigation rests with the government.