ED summons Pinarayi Vijayan’s daughter for questioning in PMLA case

The Enforcement Directorate has summoned Veena T, daughter of former Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, for questioning in a money laundering case linked to alleged fraudulent payments between CMRL and Exalogic Solutions. The probe concerns suspected proceeds of crime under PMLA

Kochi: The Enforcement Directorate has summoned Veena T, daughter of ex-Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, for questioning in a money laundering case here this week, officials said.

They said she has been asked to depose on June 12 at the central agency’s zonal office here. Her statement will be recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) once she appears, they said.

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It is understood that some other persons have been summoned by the agency too.

The investigation pertains to a money laundering case against a Kerala-based sand mining company named Cochin Minerals And Rutile Ltd (CMRL) and Veena’s now defunct company Exalogic Solutions Private Limited.

The ED raided Veena, living in the rented home of Vijayan in Thiruvananthapuram, last month along with some other locations.

The ED probe pertains to an allegation that CMRL made fraudulent payments worth Rs 2.78 crore to Exalogic Solutions under the guise of IT consultancy services.

Another company named Empower India Capital Investment Private Limited (EICPL), operated by CMRL MD Sasidharan Kartha, also extended Rs 50 lakh worth of loans to Exalogic despite the company (Exalogic) failing to make timely repayments, according to the ED.

The agency claims the management of CMRL (led by Kartha) and Veena generated “proceeds of crime” in this process.