Well prepared, closed all loopholes and hundreds of documents; ED test for Veena Vijayan

KOCHI: After nine long hours of questioning regarding the monthly payment case, Veena Vijayan left the Enforcement Directorate office in Kadavanthra, Kochi, by late Wednesday night. Veena did not respond to the media, and it is expected that the ED may summon her again for questioning.

The Enforcement Directorate questioned Veena Vijayan with the strength of a well-conducted investigation, examination of hundreds of documents, and strong preparation. The ED collected information from the transactions of Exalogic Solutions to Veena's assets. It started with the inspection conducted by the Income Tax Department on the financial transactions of CMRL in Kochi during the period 2013-18.

The Income Tax Interim Settlement Board found that money was transferred to Veena's firm for services not rendered and as a loan. The Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) investigated the discovery that Rs 2.78 crore was transferred to Exalogic and submitted a report to the court. The ED investigation is based on the findings of the Serious Fraud Investigation Office. Last April, the ED had questioned Chief Financial Officer K.S. Sureshkumar, Senior Manager N.C. Chandrasekharan, Senior Officer, Anju Raphael Kuruvila, Senior Finance Manager, P. Sureshkumar and former cashier V. Vasudevan.

After the High Court single bench rejected the petition filed by CMRL to stop the ED investigation, on May 27, raids were conducted at the rented house in Thiruvananthapuram where Veena lives with her father, Pinarayi Vijayan.

Pinarayi's house in Kannur, and Veena’s husband Muhammed Riyas' house in Kozhikode, were also raided by the central agency. Veena Vijayan's assets, worth a total of Rs 18.36 crore, including Rs 1.5 lakh, were frozen. Documents of financial transactions CMRL made over the past 15 years were taken. Nine people, including Veena Vijayan, were issued notices to appear for questioning. CMRL Joint Managing Director Sharan S. Kartha, his mother Jaya S. Kartha, and his sister Shibi S. Kartha were questioned in the last three days.

The ED is questioning Veena based on the Income Tax Department's report, the complaint submitted by Shone George to the SFIO, the SFIO's charge sheet, supporting documents, other documents, and evidence.

Veena Vijayan reached the ED office in Kadavanthra in a black Innova Crysta car along with her husband, MLA Mohammed Riyas. Only Veena was allowed into the office. Veena arrived in Kochi on Tuesday evening. The notice was to appear at 10.30 am. At 10.26 am, the car with Veena reached the ED office. Veena was in the back seat and had a shawl covering her head, and was wearing a black mask. Her husband, Muhammad Riyas, was also seated in the back. The CISF is in charge of security at the gate of the ED office. Additional soldiers were deployed. A police contingent was posted on the road. The CISF soldiers escorted Veena inside the office. After examining the summons, she signed it. The media approached Riyas, but he was hesitant to respond. The police did not allow the public to gather. Members of the local media had gathered to report on the incident.