The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday summoned former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for questioning in the Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL)-linked money-laundering case, directing him to appear before its Kochi office on October 23.
PMLA summons follows state FIRs
Officials said the summons were issued under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), under which the central agency has booked a case after taking cognisance of a recent state police FIR in the matter. Vijayan, 81, has been asked to depose before the ED office in Kochi on October 23.
The Kerala Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) recently registered two FIRs against Vijayan, his daughter T. Veena and his son-in-law, former minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas, in connection with the alleged CMRL payoff case. The Kerala High Court had on October 9 directed the VACB to register the case based on a report the ED submitted to the state police, after the agency gathered evidence during its investigation and searches under the anti-money-laundering law.
On Thursday, a division bench of the High Court dismissed applications by Vijayan and his family seeking leave to appeal against the single judge's order, observing that an accused in a corruption case has no legal right to be heard before the registration of an FIR.
What the ED alleges
The ED has alleged that CMRL made fraudulent payments of Rs 2.78 crore to Veena's now-defunct company, Exalogic Solutions, under the guise of IT consultancy services. The allegations remain under investigation and have not been adjudicated.
On Friday — the same day the summons were issued — Vijayan moved the Supreme Court challenging the High Court order directing the registration of the FIR, with senior advocate Sidharth Luthra also seeking protection from coercive action. The Chief Justice said the matter would be heard when the court reopens on October 26 after the Dussehra break. Vijayan's lawyer also cited the ongoing Assembly session, scheduled to conclude on October 29, as the reason he could not appear on the summoned date.
Sources:
- CMRL money-laundering case: ED summons ex-Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan for questioning on October 23 — The Hindu
- ED summons Pinarayi Vijayan in CMRL-Exalogic money laundering case, asks him to appear on Oct 23 — The New Indian Express
PMLA summons follows state FIRs
Officials said the summons were issued under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), under which the central agency has booked a case after taking cognisance of a recent state police FIR in the matter. Vijayan, 81, has been asked to depose before the ED office in Kochi on October 23.
The Kerala Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) recently registered two FIRs against Vijayan, his daughter T. Veena and his son-in-law, former minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas, in connection with the alleged CMRL payoff case. The Kerala High Court had on October 9 directed the VACB to register the case based on a report the ED submitted to the state police, after the agency gathered evidence during its investigation and searches under the anti-money-laundering law.
On Thursday, a division bench of the High Court dismissed applications by Vijayan and his family seeking leave to appeal against the single judge's order, observing that an accused in a corruption case has no legal right to be heard before the registration of an FIR.
What the ED alleges
The ED has alleged that CMRL made fraudulent payments of Rs 2.78 crore to Veena's now-defunct company, Exalogic Solutions, under the guise of IT consultancy services. The allegations remain under investigation and have not been adjudicated.
On Friday — the same day the summons were issued — Vijayan moved the Supreme Court challenging the High Court order directing the registration of the FIR, with senior advocate Sidharth Luthra also seeking protection from coercive action. The Chief Justice said the matter would be heard when the court reopens on October 26 after the Dussehra break. Vijayan's lawyer also cited the ongoing Assembly session, scheduled to conclude on October 29, as the reason he could not appear on the summoned date.
Sources:
- CMRL money-laundering case: ED summons ex-Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan for questioning on October 23 — The Hindu
- ED summons Pinarayi Vijayan in CMRL-Exalogic money laundering case, asks him to appear on Oct 23 — The New Indian Express
