KOZHIKODE: India’s Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday searched several properties in Kerala’s Kozhikode district linked to people associated with former state tourism minister P.A. Muhammed Riyas as part of its investigation into the CMRL-Exalogic case, according to media reports.
The searches targeted residences and other premises linked to P. Nikhil, a member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) district secretariat, and N. Nandulal, who is reported to be a close associate of Riyas.
Riyas is the husband of T. Veena, whose company Exalogic Solutions is at the centre of the investigation involving alleged payments from Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL).
An ED team comprising four officials began searching Nandulal’s residence at East Hill in Kozhikode at around 6 a.m., according to reports. Nandulal serves as Destination Coordinator of the Kozhikode District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) and is also the DYFI East Hill area secretary.
Separately, ED officials carried out searches at multiple properties linked to Nikhil in and around Kozhikode.
One of the searches was conducted at Nikhil’s ancestral home on A.P. Road in Karuvanthuruthy, Feroke. Three vehicles carrying ED officials reportedly arrived at the property at around 6:45 a.m., with officials from one vehicle entering the house to conduct the search.
Nikhil, a CPM district secretariat member, owns an advertising company operating in Kozhikode and elsewhere in Kerala and is reported to be closely associated with Riyas.
The Enforcement Directorate conducted early morning raids across Kozhikode targeting properties linked to aides of former Kerala tourism minister P.A. Muhammed Riyas in the CMRL-Exalogic probe. Searches focused on CPM functionary P. Nikhil and DTPC destination coordinator N. Nandulal, both seen as close associates, as investigators scrutinise alleged payments involving Exalogic Solutions and Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd.