Thiruvananthapuram , 07 June (H.S.):

The CPI(M) has strongly defended its senior leaders after the Ernakulam Special PMLA Court observed that there was prima facie evidence against the party and some of its former Thrissur district secretaries in connection with the Karuvannur Cooperative Bank money laundering case.

The court recently ordered the issuance of summons to CPI(M) Central Committee member and MP K. Radhakrishnan, State Committee member and MLA A.C. Moideen, and State Committee member M.M. Varghese, directing them to appear before the court on July 4.

Reacting sharply to the development, the CPI(M) State Secretariat alleged that the action was part of a sustained political campaign aimed at targeting the party and its leaders through the Karuvannur case. In a statement, the party described the move as unprecedented, arguing that district secretaries were being implicated for alleged irregularities that took place in a cooperative bank.

The party maintained that the leaders had been named with political motives and accused central agencies of attempting to tarnish the image of popular public figures in order to weaken the CPI(M). It asserted that neither the party nor its leaders would yield to such pressure.

According to the CPI(M), K. Radhakrishnan, A.C. Moideen and M.M. Varghese had actively worked to expose those responsible for the irregularities and had played a crucial role in restoring confidence in the bank. The party said the leaders had cooperated with the government to ensure depositors recovered their money and helped normalise the institution’s functioning after the crisis.

The CPI(M) also questioned the Enforcement Directorate’s intervention in the case, pointing out that allegations relating to the Karuvannur Bank had already been under investigation by the State Crime Branch. The party alleged that the ED’s involvement was politically motivated and part of a broader strategy by the BJP-led Centre to target opposition leaders.

Reiterating its opposition to the case, the CPI(M) said it would continue to fight what it described as attempts to malign the party through central investigative agencies.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman