Kochi: Former Congress MLA Anil Akkara, who played a pivotal role in exposing the massive Rs 324-crore Karuvannur Cooperative Bank scam, has claimed that, if the ongoing Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigation proceeds in the right direction in this case, several top leaders of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) are likely to be named as accused in the final charge sheet.
Akkara's remarks come after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) summoned Alathur Lok Sabha MP K. Radhakrishnan for questioning.
He alleged that K. Radhakrishnan, A.C. Moideen, a former minister and current CPI-M legislator, and M.M. Varghese, ex-Thrissur CPI-M district secretary, would be named as accused if the ED investigation is conducted thoroughly.
"So far, these leaders have been shielded due to a secret deal struck during the 2024 Thrissur Lok Sabha election. However, the ED has already recovered Rs 60 lakh from CPI-M party bank accounts and Rs 40 lakh from Moideen under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). This scam occurred during their tenure as Thrissur district CPI-M secretaries," Akkara said.
The Enforcement Directorate's (ED) latest notice to K. Radhakrishnan, a prominent CPI-M leader and former two-time state minister, has stirred up controversy after a six-month gap in the investigation. As a former Speaker and key figure from Thrissur, Radhakrishnan's summons for questioning has put the ruling party on the defensive, especially with the 24th Party Congress in Madurai approaching this April.
Radhakrishnan, a member of the CPI-M Central Committee, was served the notice upon his recent arrival in Thrissur. The party is reportedly seeking to delay his appearance, citing the ongoing Parliament session.
This is the first time Radhakrishnan has been summoned since the scam surfaced, sending shockwaves through the party. The ED has already questioned several senior CPI-M leaders, including Moideen, a former minister, P.K. Biju, a former Lok Sabha member, M.K. Kannan, a former CPI-M legislator, and M.M. Varghese, another senior leader.
In the aftermath of the scandal, several local CPI-M leaders and employees of the Karuvannur Cooperative Bank were taken into custody and jailed for their alleged involvement. However, many of those arrested have subsequently been released on bail as the investigation continues.
(inputs from IANS)