Pinarayi Vijayan’s son-in-law criticized the media

Thiruvananthapuram (IANS). A week after Income Tax officials pointed out that Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s daughter Veena Vijayan and her company received suspicious payments, her husband and state Tourism Minister P.A. Mohammad Riyas expressed his displeasure by attacking the media on Tuesday.

“Though today is Independence Day, the truth is that you (media) are not independent as you are forced to follow the agenda of those who own your media organisation,” Riyas said.

Veena Vijayan has been facing flak after a leading local daily Malayala Manorama broke the news about alleged payments received by her from mining company CMRL.

The report states that CMRL paid Rs 1.72 crore during 2017-2020 for IT services provided to Veena and her IT firm Xlogic.

It said that the Income Tax Appellate Board, while examining the tax returns of CMRL, looked into the payments made to Veena and her IT firm. It was also found on the basis of information provided by some officials of CMRL that no services were provided to the Company by their firm.

When the media dodged questions on this, an angry Riyas said that he had nothing more to add, as everything has been said by the state secretary of the CPI(M).

Riyas said, “Our secretary has already responded to this and so has the party, so whatever you ask, this is the only answer I have to give.”

Meanwhile, reports have surfaced that Riyas has not disclosed this receipt of money even in his election affidavit.

Riyas’s silence was strongly criticized by Union Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan and said that it is surprising, because Riyas is known to react to everything.