SLUG
ED CMRL ALLEGATIONS
KANNUR
Kerala Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday rejected the Enforcement Directorate’s latest allegations in the CMRL case, calling them “old allegations in a new script” and accusing the agency of trying to use the law as a political weapon.
The ED recently wrote to State Police Chief Ravada a Chandrasekhar seeking registration of an FIR against Vijayan and his family, citing evidence collected during its investigation and searches under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The agency has alleged that Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited made fraudulent payments of Rs 2.78 crore to Exalogic Solutions, a now-defunct company owned by Vijayan’s daughter Veena T, under the guise of IT consultancy services.
Vijayan said the earlier allegation was that CMRL suffered a financial loss because Exalogic received money without providing services. He said the ED was now alleging that the payment was a bribe for undue favours allegedly granted to CMRL while he was chief minister. Vijayan denied granting any such favour and said no documentary proof had been produced.
He said similar allegations were raised in 2024 before the Vigilance Court, which rejected the complaint after finding that specific facts and documents had not been produced. The Kerala High Court dismissed related petitions in March 2025, while the Supreme Court refused to interfere with that order.
Vijayan said the latest move was an attempt to politically reinterpret allegations already examined by courts and extend the ED probe to him. He questioned what favour was granted, when it was granted, through whose order and what was received in return. He said he would face the matter politically and legally, insisting that making someone an accused requires legally sustainable evidence.