Thiruvananthapuram: Health and devaswom minister K Muraleedharan has criticised the incident in which the accused in the Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials attack case participating in the Onam celebrations at the Museum police station in Thiruvananthapuram, alleging that some police officers have still not realised that the govt has changed.Muraleedharan said he expected the police to take action over the incident. He alleged that police personnel had even purchased dresses for the accused and claimed that those behind the celebrations were officers who had assaulted Congress workers inside the police station during the previous govt.“I am not naming the officer because it would not be appropriate. That police officer’s job at the Museum station was to beat Congress workers. It was on the instruction of that person that a mundu and shirt were bought for a former councillor. I expect the home department to investigate the matter,” Muraleedharan said.The remarks came after a Special Branch report reportedly found that the Onam celebrations involving the ED case accused were held with the knowledge of Museum Police Station CI R Prashanth. The officer is reportedly associated with the Left-affiliated police organisation.The Special Branch has also reportedly indicated that clothes purchased for police personnel may have included a shirt for ED case accused IP Binu. DGP has directed the Thiruvananthapuram City Police Commissioner to investigate the incident and submit a report.The controversy erupted after visuals emerged of the accused, who had arrived at the station to sign as part of their bail conditions, participating in Onam celebrations and shooting reels. They were seen wearing shirts similar in colour to those worn by police personnel and swinging on an Onam swing arranged at the station premises.Meanwhile, Muraleedharan declined to comment on the ED investigation into alleged financial transactions involving CMRL and Exalogic, a case involving former CM Pinarayi Vijayan’s daughter Veena T. He reiterated the Congress’s position that it does not support the ED’s functioning.“ED is an institution through which the Centre intervenes politically. We have maintained the same position on the ED at all times. Congress does not support any of the ED’s positions. We will not intervene in Veena’s ED case. Let the investigation proceed on its own course,” he said.
