The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is reportedly extending its inquiry into the foreign financial transactions of P.A. Mohammed Riyas, son-in-law of former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The inquiry is related to the monthly payment case linked to the CMRL-Exalogic scam. Reports indicate that steps are being taken to send a Letter Rogatory to the Dubai authorities. There are also moves to seek the assistance of the Egmont Group in conducting the inquiry.
The Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units is a global network of over 180 national Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) that cooperates to combat money laundering, terrorist financing and related financial crimes. The Group provides a platform for financial intelligence units to exchange information securely.
Hawala transactions and the movement of money to foreign countries are among the key aspects being investigated in connection with the CMRL-Exalogic case.
The main objective of the inquiry into Dubai-centric transactions is to obtain documents relating to financial transactions that took place in Dubai, identify the recipients of the funds and establish links between various accounts. The ED will seek the cooperation of the Dubai authorities to trace the movement of funds abroad and identify the ultimate beneficiaries.
A Letter Rogatory is used to formally seek documents and other evidence from foreign countries. Investigating agencies will attempt to obtain financial documents, account details and other relevant information.
The handwritten accounts and digital documents recovered during raids at institutions linked to Veena Vijayan, daughter of Pinarayi Vijayan, and other locations will be crucial to the investigation.
The information disclosed by the ED refers to domestic financial transactions worth approximately Rs 20.05 crore and UAE dirhams 3.49 lakh (equivalent to Rs 85 lakh) transferred to Dubai. Gathering information about these transactions is a significant part of the investigation.
The ED has reportedly registered two Enforcement Case Information Reports (ECIRs) against Pinarayi Vijayan and P.A. Mohammed Riyas under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with the CMRL-Exalogic case.
An ECIR (Enforcement Case Information Report) is an internal administrative document prepared by the ED to initiate money laundering investigations under the PMLA.
The ED is investigating financial transactions, suspected hawala transfers and foreign financial links following the registration of a Vigilance case by the Kerala Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau.
The CMRL-Exalogic case centres on payments made by Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) to Exalogic Solutions, a company owned by Veena Vijayan, daughter of former Keralam Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The Income Tax Department’s Interim Settlement Board examined payments initially reported at Rs 1.72 crore for 2017–2020.
The ED subsequently expanded its probe into financial transactions, including approximately Rs 20.05 crore in domestic transactions and UAE dirhams 3.49 lakh (around Rs 85 lakh) transferred to Dubai. The investigation also examines suspected hawala transactions and financial links involving P.A. Mohammed Riyas.
