Published Sep 10, 2026 | 11:18 AM ⚊ Updated Sep 10, 2026 | 11:18 AM
Veena with her husband and former minister Muhammed Riyas.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED), probing the alleged money laundering linked to Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd. (CMRL), has flagged a hawala transaction involving more than ₹25 crore and a possible money trail to Dubai, according to a report submitted to the State Police Chief.
The ED is learnt to have forwarded details of its findings as supplementary material, along with what it has described as a “Red Book” containing details of financial transactions.
It said seven pages of the book contained entries relating to money transactions.
The ED report also said it found indications that funds were transferred through a hawala mechanism, with the corresponding amount allegedly made available in Dubai in local currency.
Details of transactions allegedly routed through associates of former minister PA Muhammad Riyas were also found in the diary, it said.
The ED report said evidence was gathered after examining the mobile phones of people allegedly linked to the transactions.
It further claimed that T Veena, wife of Riyas, admitted to the transactions during questioning based on the documents and that a copy of her signed statement was included in the report.
The agency has asked the State police to investigate the source and destination of the funds, the persons involved, and any illegal methods allegedly used in the transactions.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had sought registration of cases against the Leader of the Opposition and former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter T Veena, MLA P A Muhammad Riyas and ten others under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
It had suggested filing charges under Section 66/2 of the Prevention of Money-Laundering Act, 2002, and lodging separate FIRs against 13 people, including Pinarayi, Riyas, Veena, Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) managing director Sasidharan Kartha and P Sureshkumar.
The ED has also alleged that several individuals identified as friends of Riyas — Nikhil, Waris, Faijaz, Nandulal and Shaijal — were involved in the transfer of the alleged bribe money.
Riyas, however, rejected the allegations, describing reports based on the ED investigation as fabricated and aimed at his character assassination.
In a Facebook post, he said the claim that Veena had admitted to smuggling money to Dubai was “a blatant lie” and said the matter would be fought legally.
“The ED has now alleged that Veena received money on my behalf and that this money was funnelled abroad through Riyas. At that point, Mohammed Riyas was not Veena’s husband,” Pinarayi responded, while slamming the media for carrying such “bold and ridiculous claims” by the ED.
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(With inputs from Dileep V Kumar.)
