Mystery deepens over ED probe into CM’s son Vivek Kiran

Thiruvananthapuram: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had issued a summons to Vivek Kiran, son of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, as part of plans to conduct a comprehensive review of his financial transactions. The move followed information the agency gathered during the interrogation of several individuals regarding monetary dealings linked to Vivek, who is employed at a bank in Abu Dhabi.

In the summons, ED Assistant Director PK Anand instructed Vivek to furnish details of all bank accounts maintained by him in India and abroad, along with complete account statements from the date of their inception. The notice also sought information and supporting documents regarding all assets, both movable and immovable, held in his name as well as that of his family members.

In addition, the central agency also demanded details of companies or firms in which Vivek served as a director or partner, along with documents showing his shareholding status in such entities. The directive was based on inputs that Vivek was involved in multiple business partnerships. Although the ED had planned a thorough scrutiny of his financial transactions with this, what transpired afterwards remains unclear.

The summons, signed by the investigating officer, also included a list of documents to be produced by Vivek when appearing before the ED’s Kochi office on February 14, 2023. However, Vivek did not appear on the specified date.

Typically, the ED issues up to two additional summonses if a person fails to respond to the first one. If the individual still does not comply after three summonses, the agency is empowered to conduct a raid and effect an arrest. In Vivek’s case, however, no follow-up action was initiated.

A person may be exempted from appearing if they provide satisfactory explanations and evidence proving no irregularities. It is not known whether Vivek offered such clarifications. Indications so far suggest that the investigation against the Chief Minister’s son was effectively frozen and there is no clarity on whether the ED intends to pursue any further action in this direction.

PK Anand, the officer who had served the summons, was later transferred to the Income Tax Department office in Kochi.

Summons returned
Meanwhile, reports indicate that the notice sent to Vivek was returned undelivered. The ED had addressed it to ‘Vivek Kiran, Son of Pinarayi Vijayan, Cliff House, Thiruvananthapuram.’ However, it was returned by citing that the address belonged to the Chief Minister’s official residence and that Vivek Kiran was not available at the location.

“A summons was served. What happened afterwards is not known,” an ED source said unofficially.

Political conspiracy, says Minister Sivankutty
Education Minister V Sivankutty dismissed the allegations against the Chief Minister’s son as a ‘political conspiracy.’ He said the public was fully aware of the political motives behind such reports surfacing at a time when elections are approaching.

“Would the ED have remained idle if it was a genuine case?” Sivankutty asked, reading from a prepared statement. He further alleged that the central agency has become a mere puppet acting in line with the political interests of the Central government.