Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 24: Leaders of the ruling UDF and opposition LDF on Thursday denied allegations that they had received illegal payments from mining company CMRL after the BJP levelled the charge against both fronts in Keralam.
Health Minister K Muraleedharan told reporters that he had received election funding from Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited managing director Sasidharan Kartha several years ago while contesting an election.
“There is nothing to hide. Years ago, during the election, support was given,” he said.
Muraleedharan said receiving election funding and accepting illegal gratification were two different things.
“When elections come, people help us. If you look at the list of those who accepted donations, donations were given to every party in Keralam,” he said.
His remarks came after BJP state vice president Shone George on Thursday alleged that UDF and LDF leaders had received funds from CMRL, which, he claimed, had prevented the state government from ordering a proper investigation against Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan following an Enforcement Directorate recommendation over alleged payments made by CMRL to his daughter Veena T.
The ED has alleged that CMRL made fraudulent payments of Rs 2.78 crore to Veena’s now-defunct company, Exalogic Solutions, under the guise of IT consultancy services.
The Keralam government recently decided to order a police inquiry instead of a Vigilance probe based on an ED report into alleged money-laundering transactions involving former CM Vijayan, his daughter Veena and former minister P A Mohamed Riyas.
Muraleedharan said the government did not blindly accept the ED’s allegations.
“The government in Keralam is not one that blindly believes just because the Enforcement Directorate said so. Let the preliminary inquiry proceed in that manner. No matter what they inquire, there is no issue at all,” he said.
BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar said the allegations needed to be discussed and made a subject of public debate.
“This needs to be discussed. This should be made a topic of discussion—that is what the BJP wants. This is not for politics, but we hold the opinion that a change in this politics is necessary,” he said.
Chandrasekhar alleged that an FIR was not being registered and a Vigilance inquiry was not being ordered despite evidence sent by the ED.
“The public is asking why that is. It is truly a valid question. Today, as our leader Shone George said, the question is whether money was given to today’s CM. He is the one who should provide an answer to that. Why an FIR is not being filed should be answered by the Home minister and the chief minister,” he said.
“The corruption that happened under the CPI(M) is also happening under Congress rule. They are being soft on corruption. An attempt is being made to hide corruption,” he said.
Chief Minister V D Satheesan and Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty declined to comment on the allegations.
CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam said no party leader had accepted funds except through proper channels.
“One thing is for sure, except through proper means, no one in the Communist Party would have accepted any funds. Elections, party conferences—other than for these, it can be stated that no one in CPI has accepted money from any businesspersons for anything else. I can comment further after looking into the rest,” he said.
On the ED targeting CPI(M) and Vijayan in the CMRL case, Viswam said the CPI would not remain a silent spectator if there was a political move to target the LDF or CPI(M).
Independent MLA G Sudhakaran said he did not know how his name had figured in the list.
Sudhakaran, the MLA from Ambalapuzha constituency and a former CPI(M) leader, said he would not file a defamation suit and alleged that George was “sometimes becoming over.”
Sudhakaran said CMRL managing director Sasidharan Kartha had approached him and CPI(M) leaders seeking permission to mine mineral sands along the Alappuzha coast, but permission was not granted.
“He bought land there. He gave money to some people there, bought them cars. Everyone knows all that. Right? It’s not something unknown… there’s no need to say it,” he alleged.
Sudhakaran alleged that CMRL had offered funds to the party, but he refused to accept them. (PTI)
