The Enforcement Directorate (ED) found contradictions in Veena Vijayan’s answers to the questions posed to her during the nine-hour-long interrogation in Kochi on June 25. The daughter of ex-CM Pinarayi Vijayan was grilled by the ED in the CMRL–Exalogic case at its Kochi office. Therefore, she will be summoned again next week for a third interrogation.
Now, the inquiry appears to be moving towards Pinarayi Vijayan. The ED is enquiring into the favours the Pinarayi government extended to CMRL. It is based on the assumption that the monthly pay-offs to Veena were due to the favours CMRL received from the Left Democratic Front government led by Pinarayi Vijayan (2016 to 2026). The inquiry pertains to the first Pinarayi regime (2016 to 2021).
The crux of the inquiry is to find out the reason for the monthly pay-offs to Exalogic and Veena Vijayan. The ED will inquire whether the Pinarayi government extended any favour to CMRL. Monthly payments occurred between 2017 and 2020. The ED will also try to find out how Exalogic got the CMRL contract. The ED has reportedly reached the conclusion that there are contradictions in Veena’s answers. After both occasions of interrogation, the ED appears to be unhappy due to the lack of clarity. The first interrogation was on June 17 and the second on June 25. The ED raided Pinarayi’s residence on May 27 and checked Veena’s bank locker on June 19.
The ED opines that the CMRL–Exalogic money transactions are of a mysterious and strange nature. Naturally, the inquiry might be extended to Pinarayi Vijayan. There is no clarity with respect to the expenditure of the Rs 2.78 crore Veena Vijayan received from Exalogic. Moreover, there are contradictions between the statements of the CMRL officials and Veena. It is under these circumstances that the ED is gearing up for the third interrogation.
People of Keralam believe that the coming days will be tough for both father and daughter. Party workers and leaders are totally confused about the stand they have to take. As we have stated a couple of times, the CPM is the largest employer, second only to the Government of Keralam. That itself prevents many of the party workers from leaving that apparatus.
Case Background
The case relates to alleged financial transactions between Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) and Exalogic Solutions Pvt. Ltd., a company owned by Veena Vijayan. According to findings by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), Exalogic allegedly received approximately ₹2.7–2.8 crore from CMRL between 2017 and 2020 under agreements for IT and consultancy services. Investigators have alleged that no corresponding services were provided despite the payments.
Based on the SFIO findings, the Enforcement Directorate registered a money-laundering case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The SFIO complaint reportedly named Veena Vijayan, Exalogic Solutions, CMRL officials, and others as accused, alleging violations of provisions of the Companies Act.
