Faith in Law: Kerala HC Stays Probe in CMRL-Exalogic Case
Kerala High Court stays the FIR and investigation in the CMRL-Exalogic pay-off case involving CM Pinarayi Vijayan and daughter T Veena.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has expressed his confidence in the judiciary after the Kerala High Court on Monday decided to stay the investigation and the First Information Report (FIR) in the high-profile CMRL-Exalogic case. The legal battle, which has drawn significant attention, involves the Chief Minister, his daughter T Veena, and former minister PA Mohammed Riyas.
Vijayan Reacts to Court Order
Addressing reporters following the court's decision, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan emphasized his unwavering trust in the Indian judicial process. He stated that he had remained confident throughout the proceedings that the law would follow its natural course.
"I have always placed my faith in the country's legal system at every stage. I was firmly confident that the law would take its own course. Today’s position taken by the Kerala High Court is a reflection of that," Vijayan remarked.
The Core of the Controversy
The case centers on allegations of illicit financial transactions and consultancy payments involving Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) and Exalogic Solutions, a one-person company owned by T Veena.
The controversy gained momentum following information provided by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which led the High Court to previously order a vigilance probe and the registration of an FIR. The primary allegations include:
- Fraudulent Payments: It is alleged that M/s Exalogic Solutions Private Limited received payments totaling Rs 2.78 crore from CMRL, purportedly for IT Consultancy Services.
- Suspicious Loans: The ED claimed that M/s Empower India Capital Investment Private Limited (EICPL), operated by CMRL Managing Director Sasidharan Kartha, provided loans amounting to Rs 50 lakh to Exalogic, despite a lack of timely repayments.
ED's Allegations of 'Proceeds of Crime'
According to a release from the Enforcement Directorate, their prior investigations suggested that the management of CMRL, led by SN Sasidharan Kartha, generated "Proceeds of Crime." The agency further alleged that these funds were used to pay bribes to various individuals. Specifically, the ED claimed that T Veena was among the recipients of money from CMRL without having provided any actual services in return.