"Challenge To Federalism": Minister On Kerala's Move On Probe Agencies

The state Crime Branch has already registered a First Information Report against some officials of the Enforcement Directorate.

Union minister Rajnath Singh today said that Kerala government's decision to launch a judicial investigation against Central agencies, including the Enforcement Directorate, is nothing short of a challenge to the federal structure of the country. Speaking in state capital Thiruvananthapuram ahead of the coming elections, Mr Singh sharply criticised the Left-led government headed by Pinarayi Vijayan, which made the decision at a cabinet meeting on Friday. Sources said the government was of the view that the agency had "derailed" the investigation in the gold smuggling and dollar cases. The state Crime Branch has already registered a First Information Report against some officials of the Enforcement Directorate. It was decided to appoint Justice (Retd) KV Mohan to head the commission, sources said. But the government is awaiting clearance from the Election Commission as the model Code of Conduct s in place in the state, where assembly elections are being held.