ED asks Veena to appear for another round of questioning in CMRL pay-off case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued a caller announcement to Veena T., girl of Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan, asking her to look earlier the Central bureau for different circular of questioning connected June 29 successful transportation with the money-laundering probe successful the Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd. (CMRL) pay-off case, sources said.

Ms. Veena was questioned by the ED astatine its Kochi bureau connected June 17 successful transportation with the politically delicate lawsuit registered nether the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The quality of the caller summons comes adjacent connected the heels of the ED officials inspecting Ms. Veena’s slope lockers successful Thiruvananthapuram connected June 19.

Though she was asked to look for questioning archetypal connected June 12, Ms. Veena had sought postponement of quality citing wellness grounds. The ED probe pertains to allegations that CMRL made payments totalling ₹2.78 crore to the now-defucnt Exalogic Solutions Pvt. Ltd., owned by Ms. Veena, without receiving immoderate services successful return.

Loan worthy ₹50 lakh

The ED is besides reportedly probing loans worthy ₹50 lakh extended to Exalogic by Empower India Capital Investments Pvt. Ltd. (EICIPL) operated by CMRL Managing Director S.N. Sasidharan Kartha, contempt her institution failing to marque timely repayments.

Besides Ms. Veena, the bureau has questioned Shiby S. Kartha, girl of Mr. Sasidharan Kartha and manager of an associated steadfast of the CMRL; Saran S. Kartha, associated managing manager of the CMRL; and Jaya S. Kartha, woman of Mr. Sasidharan Kartha, successful her capableness arsenic manager of the EICIPL.

The ED lawsuit stems from a prosecution ailment filed by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) earlier a tribunal successful Ernakulam successful April 2025. According to the the SFIO, the probe limb of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Exalogic and CMRL allegedly entered into an statement nether which payments were made without immoderate corresponding services being rendered.