Kochi, March 27: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has launched an investigation into a money laundering case involving Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s daughter, Veena Vijayan’s IT firm, and the Cochin-based mining company CMRL, it was revealed on Wednesday.
The case, which is already under scrutiny by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), has now drawn the attention of the ED’s Kochi office, prompting the filing of an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), akin to an FIR for cognizable offenses.
The genesis of this probe traces back to allegations raised last year by Congress MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan, based on a media report citing an Income Tax Department official claiming that “CM Vijayan’s daughter Veena Vijayan’s IT firm Exalogic had received Rs 1.72 crore from the mining company CMRL, in which the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) holds approximately 13% stake.”
Initially dismissed by CM Vijayan and the CPI(M) as a political vendetta, the narrative shifted with the SFIO taking charge of the investigation last month.
The SFIO’s inquiry has progressed significantly, with officials conducting on-site visits to the offices of CMRL and KSIDC, and recording statements from relevant personnel.
Efforts to impede the investigation, such as the KSIDC’s unsuccessful attempt to secure a stay from the Kerala High Court, and Veena Vijayan’s failed bid for a stay through the Karnataka High Court, highlight the intensity surrounding the case.
As the ED steps in to probe potential money laundering angles, the case continues to unravel, raising questions about corporate governance and transparency in Kerala’s business landscape.
