Kozhikode: Kerala Public Works Department Minister P A Mohammed Riyas refused to respond to queries on reports that his wife and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's daughter T Veena received money regularly from private firm Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL).
"The CPM state secretariat has already made a statement regarding the matter. No matter how many times you ask, the answer is always the same," he told reporters.
"Media house owners' personal interests are behind these controversies. Journalists lack freedom and fall prey to the whims of owners," he said.
The Income Tax Settlement Board had found that Veena and her company Exalogic Solutions received Rs 5 lakh and Rs 3 lakh a month, respectively, for three years from 2017, a total of Rs 1.72 crore. The CPM, on its part, contradicted the order and said the money was received annually and not monthly.
The IT Board's order, first reported by Malayala Manorama on August 9, said Exalogic had signed an agreement with CMRL to provide marketing consultancy and software services. However, the investigation revealed that no such services were rendered and yet the payments to Veena and Exalogic were made without fail.
In December 2016, the CMRL entered into an agreement with Exalogic for software services. Another agreement was signed in March 2017. As per the pact, the CMRL has to pay Veena Rs 5 lakh and Exalogic Rs 3 lakh per month.
According to available data, Veena received a total of Rs 1.72 crore — Rs 55 lakh in personal capacity and Rs 1.17 crore for Exalogic.
CMRL's Chief Financial Officer K S Suresh Kumar and Chief General Manager P Suresh Kumar deposed before the IT Interim Settlement Board that they were not aware of any services made available to the company by Veena and Exalogic as per the contracts.
Kartha and company officials later tried to withdraw the statement through an affidavit. However, the Income Tax Department stood firm on the argument that the money was paid to Veena and Exalogic illegally.
The other day CPM state secretary M V Govindan walked out of a press meet the CPM itself had called when media personnel questioned about the payoff. Govindan did not even bother to listen to the question.
A CPM statement, released on August 10, said the "monthly bribe" controversy was fake propaganda unleashed with an eye on the Puthuppally bye-election scheduled for next month.