Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Kerala Police has served notices on Hassan Warris and Nikhil, two close aides of CPI(M) MLA and former Tourism Minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas, asking them to appear for questioning in the CMRL-Exalogic case.
This is the first major move by the SIT after the state government gave the nod for the police to proceed with the probe into the points raised by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
Warris and Nikhil were questioned by the ED earlier during its investigation into the financial transactions linked to the case.
The latest development comes weeks after the ED directed State Police Chief Ravada A. Chandrasekhar to register a case and probe the allegations.
The ED had forwarded its findings and sought a police investigation into alleged violations under the Prevention of Corruption Act and other relevant laws.
The government had initially been cautious about acting on the ED's direction.
The matter was referred for legal examination, with the government seeking opinions from its legal advisers on whether a police case could be registered on the basis of the ED's findings.
After obtaining the required legal clearance, the V.D. Satheesan-led UDF government finally gave the State Police Chief the green signal to proceed.
The SIT has now begun the process by summoning Warris and Nikhil.
Their questioning is expected to focus on the transactions and alleged financial dealings flagged by the ED.
The case has assumed political significance as it involves allegations concerning people close to Riyas, who is the son-in-law of former Chief Minister and senior CPI(M) leader Pinarayi Vijayan. Riya's wife and Vijayan's daughter, T. Veena, owned Exalogic, the now-defunct IT firm.
The ED probe had examined alleged payments and financial transactions involving Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL), Exalogic Solutions and persons associated with them.
The ED had raised allegations of financial irregularities and suspected movement of funds.
The SIT's decision to summon the two aides could pave the way for questioning other persons named in the ED findings, including Vijayan, Riyas and others.
Source: IANS
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