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CMRL payoffs case: Former Keralam CM Pinarayi Vijayan, daughter and son-in-law booked for corruption
The cases follow a Kerala High Court direction based on an ED report alleging financial transactions involving CMRL, Exalogic Solutions and overseas funds.
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The Kerala Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) on Monday registered two FIRs against Kerala Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter Veena T and son-in-law and CPM MLA PA Mohammed Riyas in the CMRL monthly payoffs case, acting on a report submitted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
The FIRs invoke provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and relate to alleged payments of ₹3.28 crore by Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) to Veena’s now-defunct firm, Exalogic Solutions, and the alleged routing of ₹85 lakh abroad through hawala channels.
Vijayan and Riyas named as first accused
Officials familiar with the matter said the VACB’s Special Investigation Unit-I in Thiruvananthapuram registered the cases, naming Vijayan as the first accused in one and Riyas as the first accused in the other. Veena is an accused in both cases.
The action comes two days after a single-judge bench of the Kerala High Court directed the agency to register FIRs against Vijayan and others, holding that the ED report submitted to the state DGP contained sufficient information pointing to cognisable offences.
In the case concerning payments to Exalogic, Vijayan and others have been booked under Sections 13(1)(d) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, Sections 12, 13(1)(b) and 13(2) of the 2018 amendment to the Act, and Section 120(B) of the Indian Penal Code. The accused include Veena, Exalogic Solutions, CMRL managing director Sasidharan Kartha, former CMRL chief financial officer P Suresh Kumar, CMRL and Empower India Capital Investments Limited.
Also read: Kerala HC allows plea to register FIR against Vijayan based on ED report in CMRL 'bribery' case
ED alleges payments to Exalogic lacked supporting documents
The ED alleged that CMRL paid ₹2.78 crore to Exalogic under the guise of IT consultancy and marketing services while appointing Veena as a consultant on a monthly retainer of ₹5 lakh. She was also reportedly paid ₹45 lakh, after tax deduction at source, without invoices.
The agency said Veena “could not provide any documentary or electronic evidence” of services rendered to CMRL. It also cited Suresh Kumar’s statement that payments continued because of the “public relation avenues brought by her and her relationship with her father, Pinarayi Vijayan, the then chief minister of Kerala.”
The ED said bank statements showed that Veena and her company received ₹3.28 crore without rendering services, alleging that the payments amounted to bribes routed through her to Vijayan.
Also read: Allegations misleading, not based on facts: Chennithala hits back at Vijayan over Lokayukta meeting
Second case concerns alleged ₹85 lakh hawala transfer
The second FIR concerns allegations that Veena and Riyas routed ₹85 lakh abroad in UAE dirhams through hawala channels. Eight people have been named as accused.
Meanwhile, Vijayan, Veena and Riyas on Monday challenged the single-judge ruling before a division bench of the Kerala High Court, arguing that they were not made parties to the proceedings.
