ED also arriving to find out truth in monthly pay-off case, Kochi unit registers case; Exalogic will come under ambit of investigation

KOCHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has announced a probe into the monthly pay-off case, involving Exalogic Solutions, the company of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's daughter Veena Vijayan. The ED's move comes at a time when the Serious Fraud Investigation Office's (SFIO) probe in the case is progressing. ECIR has been registered in the Kochi unit after a preliminary examination. The case has been registered based on the Income Tax Department's reports.

The SFIO had earlier expedited the process after the courts allowed the investigation to continue. It sent notices to Exalogic and others as per the Companies Act, asking them to produce the documents related to the transactions in person at the Chennai office by March 15. It also warned to take strong legal action if the companies fail to do so. Twelve companies in the state have received the notices. As part of the investigation, the SFIO had earlier examined the bank account details of Exalogic Solutions. Exalogic started receiving money since 2016-17. CMRL and Exalogic are claiming that this was the money charged by the company for IT-related services.

Opposition Leader VD Satheesan responded that the investigation was an election stunt and that the central agency would not dare to touch anyone. Meanwhile, Shaun George, the complainant in the case, said that an investigation was necessary and transactions of huge amounts had taken place. He also said that Pinarayi Vijayan is not bigger than Arvind Kejriwal.