ED widens CMRL–Exalogic probe; Veena Vijayan questioned again, likely to be summoned

Kochi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has expanded its probe into the alleged CMRL–Exalogic “masappadi” (monthly payment) case to determine whether Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd. received favours from the previous LDF government, officials said. T. Veena, daughter of former Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and director of Exalogic Solutions, was questioned for more than 10 hours in Kochi and is expected to be summoned again.

Investigators are examining whether the monthly consultancy payments CMRL made to Exalogic were linked to benefits or concessions granted to the company by the state government during Pinarayi Vijayan’s first term. The ED is also probing alleged irregularities in the consultancy agreement and whether the payments formed part of a larger quid pro quo arrangement.

Veena appeared for a second round of questioning after the Kerala High Court cleared further investigation and was accompanied to the ED by her husband, Kerala minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas. She has maintained that the Exalogic contract was regular, but ED officials said her explanations have not yet satisfied probing officers.

The ED’s latest actions follow receipt of 134 annexures from the SFIO charge sheet secured from the Company Court in Kochi, after CMRL’s objections to handing over the documents were rejected. The case traces to Income Tax Settlement Commission findings that CMRL paid Rs 1.72 crore to Exalogic between 2017 and 2020 for consultancy despite allegedly receiving no corresponding IT services; the SFIO then opened an inquiry and the ED registered a money laundering case under the PMLA. The ED has already questioned CMRL officials and inspected Veena’s HDFC Bank locker as part of its financial trail investigation.

(Inputs from IANS)