ED seeks FIR against ex-CM Pinarayi Vijayan, daughter Veena, son-in-law Riyas in CMRL case

KOCHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has sought registration of a separate corruption case against Opposition Leader and former chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his son-in-law and MLA P A Mohammed Riyas, and daughter T Veena over alleged bribe transactions linked to Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL).

The agency has forwarded its findings and supporting evidence from its money-laundering investigation to State Police Chief Ravada Chandrasekhar, seeking registration of an FIR under the Prevention of Corruption Act and other relevant provisions.

The communication was made under Section 66(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), which permits the ED to share information gathered during its investigation with other agencies when it relates to offences falling within their jurisdiction.

Chandrasekhar confirmed to TNIE that he had received the report. “We are assessing the report and a legal opinion will be taken. Steps will be decided accordingly,” he said.

The development marks a major expansion of the CMRL-Exalogic probe, which initially focused on payments totalling Rs 2.78 crore made by CMRL to Exalogic Solutions Pvt Ltd, a now-defunct company owned by Veena.

The payments were shown as being towards IT and consultancy services. The ED has alleged that the transactions were not genuine payments for services but were used to route bribe money.

The ED report, accessed by TNIE, identifies 13 individuals and entities and sets out their alleged roles in the collection, payment and transfer of the funds.

According to the report, Pinarayi Vijayan allegedly received Rs 3.28 crore as a bribe from CMRL through Veena. Riyas has been named in connection with the alleged receipt of bribes and transfer of funds to Dubai through Veena and known associates.

The report alleges that Veena assisted Vijayan and Riyas in the collection and routing of the funds. Exalogic has been described as a corporate vehicle allegedly used for routing what the agency terms sham payments.

CMRL Managing Director S N Sasidharan Kartha and former CFO and CGM (Finance) P Suresh Kumar have also been named, with the ED alleging their involvement in the payment and facilitation of the purported bribes.

Empower India Capital Investments Pvt Ltd has been identified as an entity allegedly used for transferring the funds.

The report also names Shaijal alias Shyjal Mohammed, Nikhil P, Waris alias Hassan Varish, Faijaz V P and Nandulal M as alleged facilitators involved in the collection and transfer of money. “Unknown others” have also been listed as alleged co-conspirators and facilitators.

The ED has further alleged that Exalogic lacked the technical capacity to provide the services for which it was paid and that there was no corresponding delivery of software, ERP solutions or other tangible consultancy outputs to CMRL.

The investigation subsequently widened to the movement of funds to Dubai. The ED has said handwritten records recovered during searches contained details of transactions involving around Rs 20.05 crore and AED 3.49 lakh, with the agency examining alleged transfers through the wider financial network.

The agency is also examining possible violations under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) and whether funds from the wider trail were connected with Riyas' 2021 Assembly election campaign.

Veena has been questioned by the ED in the case, and the agency has also examined her bank locker and seized electronic and physical material during the investigation.

The state police and the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) will now examine the material forwarded by the ED and decide whether an FIR should be registered.