CMRL pay-off scam: Kerala HC serves notice to 12 including CM’s daughter on BJP leader's plea

Kochi: The CMRL pay-off scam linked with the firm owned by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s daughter is back in headlines as BJP leader Shone George approached the Kerala High Court seeking further probe into the alleged fraudulent transactions between the two firms. Considering the petition, the High Court on Wednesday issued notice to CM’s daughter Veena T and 11 others involved in the case. It is alleged that Exalogic Solutions, an IT firm owned by Veena, received payments from Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd. (CMRL) without providing any services.

According to the writ petiion,  the petitioner was the de facto complainant/whistleblower at whose instance the SFIO (Serious Fraud Investigation Office) had initiated investigation into the said fraud. Earlier, he had preferred another writ petition in 2023 before the High Court seeking investigation into the allegations. In May 2024, the court passed its judgement in the said case, and the petitioner was given liberty to move the court after the completion of the investigation by the SFIO. The present petition is filed as a follow-up to the same.

According to the petition, the SFIO (2nd respondent) had restricted its investigation within the provisions of the Companies Act. However, offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, Prevention of Corruption Act, Representation of People Act, etc. were made out as per the investigation report, it is stated. Pointing out this fact, the BJP leader sought further investigation by Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Election Commission of India.

The twelve additional respondents (R7 to R19), including Veena, were impleaded in the case after the court issued an order asking the petitioner to implead the accused persons named in the investigation report. The other additional respondents include CMRL Managing Director Sasidharan Kartha, P Suresh Kumar, KS Suresh Kumar, Saran S Kartha, KA Saghesh Kumar, Muraleekrishnan AK, Nipuna International Private Limited, Sasja India Private Limited, Anil Ananda Panicker, Exalogic Solutions Private Limited, and Empower India Capital Investments Private Limited.

(With Live Law inputs)