Kochi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued a summons to former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, directing him to appear for questioning on October 23 in connection with the CMRL money laundering case.
The central probe agency has summoned the 81-year-old veteran leader to its Kochi office under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The development comes shortly after the Kerala High Court directed the state police to register a First Information Report (FIR) against Vijayan and his daughter, Veena Vijayan, based on an ED report.
The investigation centers on alleged financial irregularities and illegal payoffs. The ED alleges that Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) fraudulently transferred Rs 2.78 crore to Veena Vijayan’s now-defunct IT consultancy firm, Exalogic Solutions, under the guise of consultancy services. Complying with the High Court’s October 9 directive, the Keralam Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) recently registered two FIRs against the former Chief Minister and his family members.
According to ED officials, search operations conducted on May 27 at the premises of Veena and CMRL promoters yielded crucial evidence. Investigators recovered handwritten notes detailing domestic transactions worth Rs 20.05 crore and foreign remittances of approximately 3.49 lakh UAE Dirhams to Dubai.
Agency officials stated that the documented financial transactions far exceed Veena’s known sources of income. During the raids, the ED also seized several digital devices, including SIM cards registered under different names, and indicated that they have uncovered evidence pointing toward hawala money transfers.
Meanwhile, Pinarayi Vijayan approached the Supreme Court on Friday, challenging the Kerala High Court’s order that mandated the FIR. Representing the former Chief Minister, senior advocate Siddharth Luthra sought an urgent hearing and protection from any coercive action before a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi.
The Supreme Court bench noted the submissions and stated that the matter would be taken up for hearing on October 26, when the court reopens after the Dussehra holidays.