Kochi: Leader of the Opposition in the Keralam Assembly Pinarayi Vijayan will not appear before the ED for questioning in connection with its probe into alleged payments from CMRL, sources said on Thursday.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) issued summons last week, asking Vijayan to appear at its Kochi office on October 23.
According to sources, Vijayan has informed the agency that he will not appear following the Supreme Court's interim order staying the investigation against him, his daughter Veena T and son-in-law P A Mohamed Riyas.
He has also cited the Keralam Assembly session, which is scheduled to resume on October 26 after a week's recess, sources said.
Last month, the ED wrote to the state police seeking registration of an FIR against Vijayan and his family, based on evidence gathered during its investigation into alleged payments by the Cochin Mineral and Rutile Limited (CMRL) and searches conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Instead of registering a case, the state police decided to conduct a preliminary inquiry based on the ED's report.
On October 9, the Kerala High Court directed the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) to register a case based on the ED report submitted to the state police.
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Two FIRs were subsequently registered, following which the ED initiated separate investigations under the PMLA against Vijayan and his family.
On October 15, the High Court rejected applications by Vijayan, his daughter Veena and her husband Riyas seeking permission to appeal against the single judge's order.
They approached the Supreme Court, which stayed the VACB investigation for a week and directed them to pursue an appeal before a division bench of the High Court.
However, the Apex Court has not stayed the ED investigation.
ED sources said a fresh summons will be issued to Vijayan after the division bench considers the appeal.
According to the VACB FIR, Vijayan allegedly abused his official position and adopted corrupt and illegal means to secure illicit pecuniary benefits for himself, his daughter and her company.
It alleges that Veena and her now-defunct company, Exalogic Solutions, received Rs 3.28 crore from CMRL and Empower India Capital Investments Pvt Ltd through their respective bank accounts under the guise of information technology consultancy and marketing services.
