Kozhikode, 15 September (H.S.):CPM leader P.A. Mohammed Riyas on Tuesday alleged that details of an Enforcement Directorate letter related to the monthly payment case were deliberately leaked to the media to malign him and his wife, Veena Vijayan.

Riyas questioned why details from a document reportedly received on May 27 were being publicised now. He alleged that the timing coincided with the conclusion of the CPM's extended State Committee meeting and a mass rally in Kozhikode.

He said an earlier attempt to link him to hawala transactions had failed and that a new allegation had now been raised over a WhatsApp group formed to discuss the development of the Beypore constituency.

The group, named 'Nammal Beypore,' includes people from different sections of society as well as journalists, he said. Riyas rejected the reported claim that it was created to facilitate hawala transactions and said its membership and conversations could be examined.

'The group and all its chats can be investigated. We will challenge the ED's actions through legal means,' he said.

Riyas also dismissed reports suggesting that Veena had admitted that certain entries found in her possession referred to hawala money. He said the entries concerned ideas for a possible future business venture and that no discussions had been held with the people whose names appeared in them.

According to him, documents containing preliminary business notes were being portrayed as a 'red book' linked to illegal financial transactions. He maintained that neither he nor Veena had any connection with black money or hawala dealings.

Riyas said premises connected to people named in the documents had been searched, but none of them had reportedly stated that the entries involved illegal money.

He added that Veena had been questioned three times by the investigating agency, but no question relating to an alleged hawala transaction had been raised during those interrogation sessions. Riyas said he had been legally advised not to respond to every allegation, but decided to clarify the claims because remaining silent could create a misleading impression.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman