Veena T Appears Before ED for Questioning in Money Laundering Case
Veena T, daughter of former Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, appeared before the Enforcement Directorate in Kochi for questioning. The inquiry relates to a money laundering case involving her defunct firm, Exalogic Solutions, and alleged irregular payments from Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd.
Highlights
- •Veena T, daughter of former Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, appeared before the ED in Kochi for questioning.
- •The investigation involves a money laundering case linked to her defunct IT firm, Exalogic Solutions Private Ltd.
- •Authorities are probing payments of Rs 1.72 crore made by CMRL to Exalogic without reported services.
- •The case was registered under the PMLA following a formal complaint by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office.
Veena T, the daughter of former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Kochi this Wednesday. Her attendance comes following a fresh summons issued by the central agency in relation to a high-profile money laundering case involving her now-defunct technology firm, Exalogic Solutions Private Ltd.
Upon arriving at the Kochi office around 10:30 AM to undergo questioning, Veena T was met with a significant police presence outside the facility. This appearance follows a previous summons set for June 12, which she was unable to attend citing health-related reasons. She has been directed to provide comprehensive documentation regarding various financial transactions linked to her former company.
Details of the Money Laundering Investigation
The investigation centers on allegations regarding payments made by Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) to Exalogic Solutions. According to official claims, CMRL transferred approximately Rs 1.72 crore to the IT firm without receiving any tangible services in return. Furthermore, investigators are probing loans worth Rs 50 lakh extended to Exalogic by Empower India Capital Investments Private Limited (EICPL), a company operated by CMRL Managing Director Sasidharan Kartha. The ED maintains that these transactions allowed for the generation of illicit funds.
The current legal proceedings under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) were initiated based on a complaint lodged by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), which operates under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. The SFIO filed this formal complaint before an Ernakulam court in April 2025.
Central agencies began scrutinizing CMRL following an Income Tax Department operation in January 2019. That initial raid allegedly uncovered substantial financial irregularities, including fictitious expenses estimated at nearly Rs 130 crore. The investigation into these financial activities continues to expand, with the ED recently questioning several individuals connected to the firm, including the wife, son, and daughter of CMRL founder Sasidharan Kartha.
As the legal process surrounding the money laundering case unfolds, authorities continue to trace the flow of funds between the corporate entities involved. The focus remains on determining whether these financial arrangements constituted a breach of regulatory protocols and the subsequent creation of proceeds of crime.
