CMRL Case: Veena Vijayan Seeks ED Questioning Deferment on Health Grounds

Veena T., daughter of former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan , has requested the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to postpone her appearance in connection with the agency's probe into the alleged CMRL-linked money laundering case .

Sources said Veena, who was summoned to appear before ED officials in Kochi on Friday, sent an email seeking a deferment on health grounds . She also informed the agency that the required documents would be submitted through her legal counsel. The ED is expected to consider the request and may issue a fresh summons with a new date.

The investigation relates to allegations that Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd. (CMRL) paid ₹2.78 crore to Exalogic Solutions Pvt. Ltd. , an IT consultancy firm owned by Veena, without receiving any services in return.

The agency is also examining a ₹50 lakh loan allegedly extended to Exalogic by Empower India Capital Investments Pvt. Ltd. (EICPL) , a company linked to CMRL Managing Director Sasidharan Kartha , despite reported repayment defaults.

According to the ED, these transactions may have generated "proceeds of crime" , prompting action under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) . The case stems from a prosecution complaint filed by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) before a court in Ernakulam in April 2025.

The matter traces back to a 2019 Income Tax raid on CMRL, which allegedly uncovered financial irregularities and suspected fictitious expenses worth around ₹130 crore .

Last month, the ED conducted searches at 10 locations linked to the case, including premises associated with Veena and her husband, former minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas .