Kerala Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau Registers FIR Against Pinarayi Vijayan, Veena , Riyas
The Kerala Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau on Monday filed two separate FIRs in the CMRL-Exalogic payoff case, naming Opposition Leader and former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter Veena Vijayan, and her husband, former minister P. A. Mohammad Riyas, as accused.
Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau on Monday, filed two separate FIRs in the CMRL-Exalogic payoff case, naming Opposition Leader and former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter Veena Vijayan, and her husband, former minister P A Mohammad Riyas, as accused.
The first case involves alleged financial dealings between Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) and Exalogic Solutions, Veena’s now-defunct company, with Pinarayi listed as the first accused and Veena as the second.
The second case relates to money laundering, where Mohammad Riyas is the first accused and Veena the second.
The move comes after a Kerala High Court directive on Friday ordered the state government to register an FIR based on information from the Enforcement Directorate, noting that the agency’s communication contained enough material to reveal cognisable offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
In its 25-page report, the ED included witness statements, financial transaction records, entries from seized diaries and notebooks, and chat logs. The court noted that this material justified registering an FIR.
The ED then sent its findings to the State Police Chief under Section 66(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), requesting action against Viayan, Veena, and Riyas under the Prevention of Corruption Act and other applicable laws.
The report came after the ED investigated alleged financial dealings between CMRL and Exalogic Solutions.
The agency claimed that CMRL made payments to Exalogic without receiving any services in return, alleging these transactions were part of a broader bribery scheme.
According to the ED, CMRL allegedly paid Rs 2.78 crore to Veena's IT firm, Exalogic Solutions, under the guise of IT consultation fees despite the firm not providing any services.
The IT department had unearthed these alleged payments, made during Vijayan's first term as Chief Minister.
In May, the ED carried out raids at Vijayan's residences in Thiruvananthapuram, Kannur, and eight locations linked to local CPM leaders in Kozhikode district.
The ED claimed to have found evidence of money transfers through the hawala route.
In its report to the state police, the ED alleged that Vijayan received Rs 3.26 crore from CMRL as a bribe through Veena.
The agency cited an alleged admission by CMRL's former chief financial officer and claimed that Riyas helped transfer the money to Dubai through Veena and others.
The ED also sought an FIR against senior employees of Exalogic Solutions.
The allegations have not been established in court.
While Pinarayi has denied the allegations, the CPM reiterated that it will fight the case legally and politically.
Pinarayi, Veena, Riyas file petition before HC
Earlier, Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter Veena, and son-in-law and former minister P. A. Mohammed Riyas filed appeals before the Kerala High Court seeking to quash a single judge's order directing the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) to register an FIR against them in the CMRL payoff case.
The petitioners argued that the single judge passed the order without allowing them to be heard, violating the principles of natural justice.
Pinarayi, Veena, and Riyas filed separate petitions seeking leave to appeal against the single judge's order.
The Division Bench of the High Court will consider the petitions on Tuesday.