Thiruvananthapuram, July 25 (IANS) Leader of the Opposition in Kerala Assembly, Pinarayi Vijayan, on Saturday strongly rejected reports claiming that Sasidharan Kartha, Managing Director of Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL), had told the Enforcement Directorate (ED) that payments made to his daughter T. Veena’s firm, Exalogic Solutions, were linked to his personal proximity to the Chief Minister.
Vijayan dismissed the allegation as a “media creation” and challenged those making the claim to produce documentary evidence.
Responding to reports that Kartha had allegedly told the ED that Exalogic Solutions was awarded contracts and paid crores of rupees solely because of his personal proximity to the then Chief Minister, Vijayan challenged the authenticity of the claim and demanded documentary proof.
“Who has released this statement? Does something become true merely because it appears in the media? If there is any document, let it be produced. These are all media creations. You have been manufacturing stories for years. Have any of those stories yielded any result?” Vijayan said while interacting with reporters on Saturday.
He alleged that there was a sustained attempt to drag him into the case. “Everyone is trying somehow to connect this case to me. They seem to have a great deal of interest in me. Let them prove it. Then we shall see,” he remarked.
According to media reports, Kartha is stated to have told the ED during questioning in April 2024 that neither Veena nor her company, Exalogic Solutions Pvt Ltd, had provided any services to CMRL despite receiving payments.
The reported statement further claimed that the contracts and payments were made because of Kartha’s personal relationship with Pinarayi Vijayan. The ED is understood to have relied on this statement while proceeding with attachment and freezing actions under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Vijayan also rejected fresh reports that his daughter, T. Veena, owned another company named Laker India Corporation, which is reportedly under the ED’s scanner as part of the widening investigation.
When questioned about the company, he responded with a counter-question, asking, “Have you left Kamala International?”
The reports said the ED recovered documents relating to a private company during searches conducted at Veena’s residence in May and has expanded its investigation into the company, which is engaged in the distribution of medical equipment.
The agency has already frozen bank accounts and deposits linked to Veena and associated entities as part of its ongoing money laundering investigation.
The CMRL-Exalogic case centres on allegations that Exalogic received crores of rupees from CMRL for consultancy services that were never rendered.
While the ED has intensified its probe and initiated attachment proceedings, Vijayan has consistently denied any role in the alleged transactions, maintaining that repeated attempts are being made to target him through the investigation.
–IANS
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