The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has initiated an investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act into the alleged pay-off controversy involving Veena, the daughter of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The ECIR was registered based on a report by the Income Tax Interim Settlement Board, which highlighted monthly payments of ₹1.72 crore received by Veena’s company, Exalogic Solutions Private Ltd., from Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd. (CMRL) without evidence of services rendered.
The probe will extend to individuals and entities identified in the ITSIB order, including CMRL and the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation. The High Court of Karnataka had previously dismissed a petition filed by Exalogic Solutions Private Limited, challenging the Ministry of Corporate Affairs’ decision to probe the company’s affairs, citing illegal payments totaling ₹135 crore.