ED WhatsApp trail puts Vijayan’s daughter Veena, ex-Kerala Minister Riyas under fresh scrutiny

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 11
A WhatsApp conversation allegedly involving former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s daughter T. Veena has emerged as a key piece of digital evidence in the financial crime findings handed over by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to the State Police Chief.

The conversation allegedly shows Veena, while staying in Dubai, asking her son in Kerala what name should be given to a company she was planning to start there.

The ED has included the WhatsApp exchange in its detailed report to the police.

The agency reportedly sees the message as evidence of a move to establish a business entity in Dubai in the backdrop of alleged overseas financial transactions.

The police are expected to examine whether the proposed company was actually set up and whether it had any connection with the transactions under investigation.

The ED has also reportedly handed over details of a red-covered diary allegedly maintained by Veena, containing entries on money given to various persons in Kerala. Bank records, WhatsApp conversations and documents relating to alleged transfer of funds abroad are also understood to be part of the material submitted to the police.

The findings have opened a fresh line of investigation beyond the allegation that Pinarayi Vijayan received Rs 3.28 crore from CMRL.

The police will have to establish the source of the alleged funds, the persons involved and the route through which money was allegedly moved abroad before any hawala case can be established.

The ED report also reportedly points towards former minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas who is her husband.

It alleges that substantial foreign transactions took place during his tenure and that his close associates were used for transferring money to Dubai.

However, Riyas has rejected the allegations. He has alleged that the ED threatened Veena and pressured her to implicate Pinarayi Vijayan in the CMRL-Exalogic transactions.

He has also denied that his Dubai trips had anything to do with hawala transactions.

The Home Department is examining the ED report received by the DGP.

The government is expected to take a decision on registration of an FIR after obtaining legal advice and completing its preliminary examination.

If a case is registered, the investigation could widen to cover the alleged money trail, the proposed Dubai company, the diary entries, bank transactions and the persons allegedly involved in transferring funds abroad.

The developments could revive the political controversy surrounding the financial allegations against the former Chief Minister’s family and put Riyas under fresh legal and political scrutiny.