ED files plea seeking permission to record statements of many including Veena Vijayan 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a plea seeking permission to record the statements of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's daughter Veena Vijayan and others in the CMRL-Exalogic transaction case. The plea was filed in the Ernakulam Additional Sessions Court.

The charge sheet filed by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) in the monthly payoff case was recently accepted by the trial court in Kochi. Following this, the ED had filed an application in the court and got the charge sheet. After studying this charge sheet, the ED filed the plea seeking the statements of Veena Vijayan and others.

The SFIO investigation found that Veena's company Exalogic received Rs 2.70 crore from CMRL without providing any services. The charge sheet states that there are prima facie charges against Veena and others. There are 13 accused in the case, including Veena and CMRL managing director Kartha. Charges that can carry a jail term of up to ten years have been filed against them.

The SFIO investigation has also uncovered irregularities in CMRL's financial transactions. It has been found that the company diverted approximately Rs 182 crore to many including political leaders. The investigation also found that Rs 13 crore was transferred as commission to Anil Ananda Panikkar, son-in-law of Sasidharan Kartha.