Veena Vijayan, daughter of Pinarayi Vijayan, appeared before officials of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Kochi on June 17. She is being questioned in connection with the CMRL monthly payoff case, which allegedly involves payments amounting to Rs 2.78 crore between 2018 and 2019.
Veena was earlier summoned to appear before the ED on June 12. However, she informed the agency that she was unwell and unable to attend. The ED subsequently issued a fresh summons directing her to appear on June 17. The agency also rejected her request to submit the required documents through her lawyers. She had been granted extensions after producing medical records and communicated with the ED through email.
On June 16, the ED questioned Jaya Kartha, wife of CMRL Managing Director Sasidharan Kartha, and their son Saran S. Kartha. The agency had also interrogated Sasidharan Kartha’s daughter Shibi S. Kartha and one of the company’s directors on June 15.
Sasidharan Kartha has reportedly been delaying his appearance before the ED, citing health issues.
Observers are now closely watching the developments to see whether the ED will take any further action against Veena Vijayan, including the possibility of an arrest.
About the CMRL Pay-Off Case
Veena Vijayan’s Exalogic Solutions and Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) are at the centre of the case. The allegations relate to payments allegedly made by CMRL to Exalogic Solutions without any services being rendered in return. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) began its probe based on findings of the Income Tax Settlement Board regarding monthly payments allegedly made to Veena Vijayan. The total amount involved is said to be Rs 2.78 crore between 2018 and 2019.
According to findings cited by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) and the ED, the payments were allegedly structured as follows:
• Rs 1.17 crore paid to Exalogic Solutions (approximately Rs 3 lakh per month)
• Rs 55 lakh paid to Veena Vijayan in her personal capacity (approximately Rs 5 lakh per month)
• Additional payments of around Rs 1.06 crore
Both the SFIO and the ED have alleged that these were not genuine business transactions and were routed as payments for IT and marketing consultancy services that were never actually provided.
Notably, the CPM leadership has refrained from mounting a strong public attack on the ED this time. On May 27, when the ED conducted searches linked to the case, large-scale protests erupted outside Pinarayi Vijayan’s residence. The demonstrations later expanded into statewide protests directed against the ED and, by extension, the Union government.
During the unrest, 24 CPM workers were arrested and booked under Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code (attempt to murder). ED officials’ vehicles were allegedly attacked, and one driver reportedly sustained an eye injury.
