Former Left minister and MLA P.A. Mohammed Riyas on Thursday, 20 August launched a sharp rebuttal against a media report alleging that money received by his wife Veena Vijayan from CMR for services was routed through his bank account to third parties — as the Enforcement Directorate's latest findings in the Veena Vijayan financial case threatened to escalate into a broader political crisis for the Communist Party of India (Marxist) state leadership in Kerala.

Riyas Fires Back

In a post on social media, Riyas described the report — which carried his photograph prominently — as a 'complete lie'. He denied that any money received by Veena from CMR had been transferred through his bank account to the accounts of several persons. He also rejected claims that he had been questioned over the phone twice in connection with the transactions.

Riyas said he would initiate legal action against the publication. 'I have done nothing wrong and therefore have the confidence and clear understanding that I can face this legally,' he said. He added that he would not respond to what he called baseless reports appearing daily since the investigation began, stating the matter was being handled legally.

Why This Case Carries Political Weight

The statement carries significant political weight because Riyas is married to Veena Vijayan, the daughter of former Kerala Chief Minister and CPI(M) Politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan. The ED's latest findings — including its characterisation of certain transactions as allegedly involving hawala — have placed the financial dealings of Veena's company under an unprecedented political spotlight.

Notably, this is not the first time the Vijayan family has faced scrutiny over business dealings linked to Veena. The cumulative weight of the ED's findings, however, has made this the most politically charged phase of the investigation yet.

CPI(M) Takes the Battle to the People

The CPI(M) state leadership has decided to confront the controversy head-on, opting to defend Veena publicly and challenge the legitimacy of the ED's actions. A political meeting is scheduled in Kozhikode on Sunday to present the party's position on the agency's investigation.

The choice of Kozhikode — Riyas's political home turf — is widely seen as deliberate, lending the event an added dimension of personal and political solidarity. Pinarayi Vijayan has consistently maintained that he has nothing to fear and that his hands are clean.

Vijayan Under the Spotlight

Vijayan is also set to address a meeting of the party's youth wing as it prepares to announce a new set of office-bearers. His response at that event, and the manner in which the party frames its defence of Veena, will be closely watched by political observers and the opposition alike.

With the ED putting out increasingly pointed findings, questions are being raised about whether the political defence mounted by the former Chief Minister can withstand the growing scrutiny. For the CPI(M), the issue has moved beyond an investigation involving an individual — the credibility of Riyas's counterclaim, the state unit's posture toward the ED, and crucially, how the party's national leadership responds could define the next phase of what is rapidly becoming a politically sensitive battle.