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The Directorate of Enforcement has initiated a probe into an alleged illegal payment scandal involving the daughter of Kerala Chief Minister and CPI(M) politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan.
Vijayan’s daughter Veena has been under the scanner of various central government agencies after an income tax department report last year, pertaining to the Kochi-based Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL), stated that firm allegedly made “illegal payment” of Rs 1.72 crore to her information technology firm, Exalogic Solutions Private Limited, over three years from 2018-19, even though the latter did not provide it any service.
Subsequently, the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, also launched a probe against Veena’s firm. Last month, the Karnataka High Court had rejected a petition moved by the Exalogic Solutions Private Limited challenging the probe by the SFIO.
In Kerala, the State-run Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation, which has equity in CMRL, had challenged the SFIO probe in the high court. But the court not only refused to stay the probe but also asked KSIDC to show bonafides.
The ED registered the case based on a complaint from Shone George, a member of the Kottayam district panchayat and son of senior politician P C George, who recently joined the BJP. He had moved the ED seeking a probe into Veena’s firm, CMRL and State government entity Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation, which has a share in the CMRL.
Shone had alleged that the financial dealings of Exalogic involved money laundering and hence sought a probe by the ED.
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