ED probe into Vijayan’s daughter may further strain Congress-CPM ties

NEW DELHI: In what could further strain the already tense Congress-CPM equation, ED has intensified its probe into the money laundering allegations against the daughter of former Marxist CM of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan.

Boosted by a Kerala high court order that money laundering investigations against Vijayan’s daughter Veena are not dependent upon registration of a criminal case against her, ED has switched into higher gear in the politically sensitive case.

While sources in the agency denied that the visit of ED chief Rahul Navin was motivated by the opening created by HC for the probe, which was stalled because of the indifference of the Vijayan government, they said that the investigation will gather momentum as a logical corollary of the HC order.

This will widen the rift between Congress and CPM, which has taken exception to Rahul Gandhi’s endorsement of ED’s charges against Vijayan and his allegation that the agency did not arrest Vijayan because of a secret Marxist-BJP deal. CPM general secretary M A Baby wrote a letter to Congress chief Kharge to protest, and its resentment can only grow as the probe moves closer to Vijayan’s doorstep.

The enforcement agency on May 27 searched the former CM’s house, where Veena was also present.

The latter is accused of receiving Rs 1.7 crore from Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL). The payment was allegedly in exchange for the services she offered as the owner of a computer solutions company.