Shadow of money laundering probe over daughter, Kerala CM sticks to his guns: ‘I don’t take it seriously’

“The matter is before the court and let the probe proceed. This is not a matter affecting me,’’ he said.

Veena has been under the scanner of various central government agencies following an Income Tax case dating back to 2023, according to which her now-defunct information technology firm, Exalogic Solutions Private Limited, received “illegal payment” of Rs 1.72 crore from Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) in 2018-2019, although it had not provided any service.

Besides ED, the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, has also launched a probe against Veena’s firm. Last week the Union Ministry had sanctioned prosecution proceedings against Veena and SFIO had filed a prosecution complaint before a court in Kochi.

Addressing the media while announcing details about his government’s drive against synthetic drug abuse, Vijayan said: “What the media needs is my blood, but that will not come soon. Certain media do not have common sense. The payment made to my daughter was not black money. It was payment for services given (to the CMRL). The company had paid GST and income tax. Such matters have been concealed to raise the allegation”.

There was “nothing wrong” in the party backing his daughter in the issue, he said.

The SFIO has alleged that Exalogic Solutions received a total of Rs 2.7 crore from CMRL. These payments were made under an agreement between Exalogic Solutions and CMRL to provide IT services, but no such services were provided, the SFIO has alleged.  Earlier, the Karnataka High Court rejected a petition filed by Exalogic Solutions challenging the SFIO probe.