CMRL-Exalogic case: Enforcement Directorate tightens net around Veena Vijayan, summons expected

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Following the series of coordinated raids across 12 locations, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is reportedly tightening its grip on the high-profile CMRL-Exalogic case. Sources indicate that the central agency is set to issue a formal summons to Veena Vijayan, daughter of Leader of the Opposition and former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, for further interrogation.

As the financial investigation deepens, the ED has frozen 242 bank accounts holding a cumulative balance of ₹18.36 crore. Investigators are currently scrutinising a vast cache of seized financial documents, including bank statements and fixed deposit receipts, to map the source and ultimate destination of these funds. A primary focus of the probe is to ascertain whether funds allegedly received for "non-existent services" were diverted by Veena Vijayan to acquire personal assets or make external investments.

According to sources within the agency, the responses provided by Veena Vijayan during the preliminary questioning at the time of the raids were deemed "unsatisfactory." Consequently, the ED plans to issue a formal notice directing her to appear at its zonal headquarters in Kochi.

The scope of the investigation currently revolves around an alleged money laundering web worth ₹130 crore. The ED is actively tracking the money trail to identify other corporate entities that may have received these illicit funds, alongside pinning down additional beneficiaries. To build a comprehensive case, CMRL officials are also expected to be summoned for questioning in the coming days.