T. Veena Questioned by ED in CMRL Money Laundering Case

T. Veena, daughter of former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) at its zonal office in Kochi on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, for questioning in connection with the Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) pay-off case. She arrived at the ED office around 10:25 a.m., accompanied briefly by her husband and Beypore MLA, P.A. Mohamed Riyas. This appearance marks a significant development in the high-profile money laundering probe. Ms. Veena had initially been summoned by the ED to appear on June 12, 2026, but she sought a postponement, citing health reasons. The ED subsequently issued a fresh summons, directing her to appear on June 17. Security measures were heightened around the ED office with personnel from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and Kerala Police deployed. The investigation, registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), stems from allegations that CMRL made payments amounting to ₹2.78 crore to Exalogic Solutions Private Limited, an IT firm owned by T. Veena, between 2017 and 2021. The core accusation is that these substantial payments were made without Exalogic Solutions providing any tangible services in return. The CMRL pay-off case gained prominence after an Income Tax Interim Settlement Board's finding in 2023 indicated that payments were made to Ms. Veena's firm for which no services were rendered. This finding led to allegations of "illegal payments" and subsequently triggered investigations by multiple central agencies, including the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) and the ED. Prior to T. Veena's questioning, the ED intensified its probe by summoning and interrogating other key individuals associated with the case. On Monday, June 15, 2026, Shiby S. Kartha, daughter of CMRL Managing Director Sasidharan S. Kartha, was questioned. Following this, on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, Saran S. Kartha, Joint Managing Director of CMRL and son of Sasidharan Kartha, and Jaya S. Kartha, Sasidharan Kartha's wife, also appeared before the ED for questioning. These individuals were asked to provide documents related to alleged financial transactions between the firms. The ED's PMLA case was initiated in March 2024, taking cognisance of a prosecution complaint filed by the SFIO before an Ernakulam court in April 2025. The SFIO, the investigative arm of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, had conducted its own probe into Exalogic Solutions and CMRL's financial dealings, including an assessment of alleged gains received by Exalogic. Adding to the intensity of the probe, the ED had conducted raids on May 27, 2026, at residences linked to former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in Kannur and Thiruvananthapuram. These searches were part of the agency's efforts to determine if Ms. Veena's now-defunct firm had received sizable monthly retainers from CMRL without providing tangible services. The agency also reportedly froze ₹18.36 crore across 242 accounts identified during its search operations. Furthermore, the investigation extends to another company, Empower India Capital Investments Private Limited (EICPL), operated by CMRL Managing Director Sasidharan Kartha. The ED alleges that EICPL extended loans worth ₹50 lakh to Exalogic, even though Exalogic reportedly failed to make timely repayments, suggesting these transactions could be part of the 'proceeds of crime'. A special court in Kochi recently allowed the ED to access documents collected by the SFIO in the CMRL pay-off case, providing the agency with crucial evidence for its ongoing investigation. The case has significant political implications in Kerala, given the involvement of the former Chief Minister's daughter in allegations of financial irregularities and money laundering. The CPI(M) has previously stated that the allegations are politically motivated.

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