Kerala anti-corruption bureau registers two cases in CMRL–Exalogic investigation

Kerala’s Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau has registered two cases involving former chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter T. Veena and former minister P. A. Mohamed Riyas, The Hindu reported on October 12.

One initial police report concerns alleged improper payments by Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited to Exalogic Solutions, an IT company owned by Veena that is no longer operating. Vijayan, Veena and Riyas are named in that report, according to the newspaper.

The second report concerns alleged transfers of funds abroad through intermediaries using hawala channels. Riyas is listed as the first accused, and Veena is also named. Registration begins a formal criminal investigation and does not establish anyone’s guilt.

The cases follow a Kerala High Court direction to register complaints based on material supplied by the Enforcement Directorate. A petition had challenged the state government’s decision to conduct a preliminary inquiry rather than immediately register a case.

The transactions had previously drawn scrutiny from tax authorities. The Hindu cited an August 2023 tax settlement board report concerning 17.2 million rupees paid to Veena and her company without evidence of services in return.

Onmanorama reported that Vijayan, Veena and Riyas sought permission to appeal the court’s direction. Their lawyer argued that they had not been heard before an order affecting them was issued. That challenge does not itself overturn the direction.