Ex-Minister Riyas Rejects Hawala Claims Against Wife Veena

CPI(M) leader P A Mohamed Riyas on Tuesday rejected reports alleging that his wife, Veena T, admitted to hawala transactions before the ED, claiming these were attempts to defame her.

Veena is the daughter of former Chief Minister and CPI(M) senior Politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan. Riyas, speaking to reporters here, further contended that the "scribblings" that were found by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in May this year during its probe into the alleged CMRL bribery case were related to a future business endeavour Veena was planning.

The former state minister and current MLA from Beypore also questioned the timing of the release of such reports -- when the extended state committee meeting of the



CPI(M) was set to conclude. He claimed that as earlier attempts of the ED to implicate him in connection with hawala transactions failed, the agency was now levelling such accusations against a group created in relation to development work in his constituency.

"Some reports are claiming that Veena has admitted to hawala transactions. It is pure nonsense and lies. The scribblings only refer to a future business she was planning. She has not admitted to any black money. 

Such allegations are aimed at defaming her," he contended. He said that he had been legally advised not to speak about every minute detail of the allegations against her. "However, these allegations will be dealt with legally," he asserted.