The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has summoned Veena T, daughter of former Kerala chief minister and veteran Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) leader Pinarayi Vijayan, to appear for questioning at its zonal office in Kochi on Friday in connection with its probe into the Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) monthly payoffs case.
Her statement will be recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) once she appears. (Image sourced | HT)
The central agency has also asked at least eight top officials of CMRL, including its chairman Sasidharan Kartha, to turn up for questioning at the Kochi office the same day.
The move comes days after a division bench of the Kerala High Court dismissed a plea filed by CMRL challenging the ED investigation in the case. The division bench upheld a single judge bench order showing the green light to ED to continue its probe in the case.
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This is the first time that Veena T, the founder of now-defunct IT firm Exalogic Solutions, has been summoned by the ED in the case. She had earlier deposed before officials of the Special Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) which has also investigated the case and submitted a chargesheet in a special court in Ernakulam.
The ED is investigating whether provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) have been violated by CMRL, a chemicals manufacturer based in Kochi, with respect to the alleged fraudulent monthly payments to the tune of ₹ 2.78 crore it made to Exalogic and Veena. An Income Tax Interim Settlement Board had found in 2023 that Veena’s firm delivered no tangible services in exchange for receiving the money from CMRL though an agreement for marketing and software services had been drawn up between the two firms.
Investigations by the SFIO have pointed to CMRL claiming fictitious cash expenses of ₹ 182 crore over a span of 15 years, much of which was paid as bribes to prominent individuals across a range of sectors.
Last month, the ED searched the premises of Veena T and her father Vijayan in Kannur and Thiruvananthapuram and seized documents of investments, bank FDs and digital evidence. The agency has said that it has frozen about ₹ 18.36 crore in around 242 accounts identified during the search operations at premises linked to Veena and top CMRL officials.
CPI(M) leader NN Krishnadas, responding to the news of ED summoning Veena, said, “She is a capable woman. She will handle it legally. The party will not interfere in it.”
Read the full article at Hindustan Times →📄Source document: Directorate of Enforcement (ED)
3 reports
Times of IndiaIndependentLeft7 days agoThe Communist Party of India (Marxist) has urged the Indian National Congress to cease acting as a 'facilitator' for the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Modi government. This comes ahead of an INDIA bloc meeting, where CPI(M) leader Baby issued a sharp letter to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. The letter references allegations made by Rahul Gandhi and other senior Congress figures during the Kerala elections, suggesting collusion between CPI(M) and the BJP, and calling for ED action against then Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. CPI(M)'s Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas raised this issue
Bias read (Left): The article highlights the CPI(M)'s accusation against the Congress party of facilitating actions by the ED and the Modi government, which aligns with leftist political interests. The framing emphasizes the alleged collaboration between the Congress and the Modi government, suggesting a critical立场t向
Hindustan TimesIndependentCenter12 days agoThe Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has summoned Veena T, daughter of former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, for questioning in connection with an ongoing investigation into the Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) case. The inquiry involves potential violations of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The ED has also summoned several senior CMRL officials for questioning. This follows a recent ruling by the Kerala High Court allowing the ED to continue its investigation. Veena T previously testified before the Special Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), which has already
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information without overtly biased language or selective emphasis. It reports on legal proceedings involving a high-profile individual and does not take a stance on the innocence or guilt of any party involved.
Official sources cited
- government Directorate of Enforcement (ED)
- government Kerala High Court
The PrintIndependentCenter12 days agoThe Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned the daughter of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for questioning in connection with a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Bias read (Center): The article reports a factual event without apparent framing or slant. It does not include commentary, quotes, or context that would indicate a particular ideological leaning.
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