Funds beyond income, hawala evidence: ED findings in Veena probe

KOCHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has alleged that Veena Vijayan, who is under investigation in the monthly payment case, carried out hawala transactions. According to an ED press release, details of transactions amounting to Rs 20.05 crore and the transfer of Rs 85 lakh to Dubai were found in Veena's diary.

The ED issued the press release following raids conducted at nine locations in Kozhikode on Tuesday as part of its investigation into allegations that Veena received money from CMRL for services that were not provided through her company, Exalogic Solutions.

The documents seized from Veena on May 27 contained handwritten accounts maintained by her, the ED said. The records included the names of those who handled, spent and transferred the money, as well as details of the money sent to Dubai. The accounts were maintained in both UAE and Indian currencies.

The ED also alleged that Veena used a SIM card registered in another person's name through a Wi-Fi router for internet calls.
The raids conducted the previous day were carried out at the residences of people mentioned in Veena's notes. Several digital devices were also seized during the searches.

It was found that CMRL had incurred suspicious expenses amounting to Rs 182 crore over a period of 15 years. This included Rs 2.78 crore paid to Exalogic Solutions, Veena's company.

'ED trying to put people under cloud of suspicion through raids,' says Riyas

MLA Mohammed Riyas alleged that the ED was trying to create a smokescreen through the raids and put people under a cloud of suspicion.
Reacting to the raids at the houses of his friends and others, Riyas told the media that searches had continued until night at the residences of his college friends, who, he said, were engaged in legitimate business.
He said he had mentioned Laker India Corp in his election nomination papers and that portraying it as a new establishment was incorrect. Veena had the freedom to conduct business, he said.

Riyas said Veena was being targeted because she is the daughter of a senior political leader. He said he would face the matter both legally and politically. "I will not become a BJP member like Congress leaders out of fear of the ED," Riyas said. He added that Exalogic had paid tax on the services it provided and said the ED could examine all the records.