Fresh developments in the Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) financial transactions case have reportedly brought Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan under the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) scanner, with reports suggesting that he may soon be questioned.
The reports follow an alleged statement attributed to CMRL Managing Director S.N. Sasidharan Kartha, said to have been recorded by the ED on April 17, 2024, and included in a report submitted by the agency’s Kochi office to the ED Adjudicating Authority in Delhi before the attachment of assets belonging to Veena Vijayan and Exalogic.
According to the reports, the alleged statement attributed to Sasidharan Kartha claimed that payments were made to Veena Vijayan and Exalogic on the basis of his personal rapport with Pinarayi Vijayan.
Reports further suggest that the ED is examining the statement as part of its ongoing investigation into the financial transactions involving CMRL and Exalogic.
The reports further stated that the money was paid without receiving any Resource Planning Service, a fact that Veena has admitted.
If Pinarayi Vijayan is interrogated, it is likely to be on the basis of Kartha’s statement. Veena has also admitted before the ED that Rs 2.78 crore was received without rendering any IT service.
Last week, ED Special Director Prashanth Kumar visited Kochi to review the case. During the review, ED officials reportedly discussed the possibility of interrogating Pinarayi Vijayan. The follow-up action will be taken after obtaining the permission of ED Director Rahul Naveen.
Reports also suggest that the ED has stated that CMRL gave Rs 1.72 crore to Exalogic without receiving any IT consultancy service. This was allegedly discovered during the Income Tax raid conducted on January 25, 2019. It was further found that Rs 2.78 crore was paid to Veena and her company under different contracts.
However, Pinarayi Vijayan, as usual, told the media that the statement attributed to Sasidharan Kartha is merely a media creation.
Meanwhile, people in Kerala are waiting with keen interest to hear whether Pinarayi Vijayan will be interrogated by the ED. They are also watching to see whether CPM workers will stage any violent protest against the ED officials, as they allegedly did on May 27 in Thiruvananthapuram.
On that day, when ED officials were leaving Pinarayi Vijayan’s residence after examining documents related to Veena, CPM workers allegedly attacked them and damaged their vehicle by throwing bricks. The incident was described as being as good as an attempt to murder, with senior leaders reportedly leading the agitated mob.
So far, 26 persons have been arrested, while several others are still absconding. Except for one, all the arrested accused have been denied bail despite repeated petitions. Cases have reportedly been registered against around 300 persons.CMRL boss’s statement. Pinarayi is likely to be interrogated soon.
