Daijiworld Media Network – Kochi
Kochi, Jun 9: The Enforcement Directorate has issued a summons to Veena Vijayan in connection with its investigation into the alleged financial transactions between Exalogic Solutions and Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd.
According to sources, Veena Vijayan has been directed to appear before the ED's Kochi office on Friday for questioning. The agency has reportedly issued summons to nine individuals, including Veena and officials associated with CMRL.
The case pertains to alleged irregular financial transactions involving Exalogic Solutions, an IT firm linked to Veena Vijayan, and CMRL, a minerals company based in Kerala.
The latest development comes days after the ED conducted searches at multiple locations linked to Veena Vijayan, Exalogic and others connected to the case. Investigators are expected to confront those summoned with documents and digital evidence allegedly recovered during the searches.
The agency's move follows a recent court order that allowed the ED access to documents attached to a report prepared by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office. A special court dealing with corporate offences reportedly rejected CMRL's plea against sharing the records with investigators.
Among the documents sought by the ED are agreements between Veena Vijayan and CMRL, income tax records and other financial documents related to the transactions under scrutiny.
Sources said the agency has already gathered substantial documentary, digital and financial evidence and is now focusing on examining individuals linked to the transactions and tracing the flow of funds.
The investigation gained momentum after the ED reportedly froze nearly Rs 18 crore held across 242 bank accounts during recent searches. One of the frozen accounts is linked to Veena Vijayan and is reported to contain around Rs 1.5 lakh.
The probe has also sparked political controversy in Kerala, with workers of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Left Democratic Front staging protests against the ED action, alleging political vendetta.
Some demonstrations outside locations searched by the agency turned violent in Thiruvananthapuram, leading to police cases against around 300 people and the arrest of five individuals.
According to reports, the FIR filed by ED officials alleged attacks on agency personnel, police officers and members of the Central Reserve Police Force during the protests.
With summons now issued and key records under examination, Friday's questioning is expected to be a significant step in the ED's ongoing probe into the CMRL-Exalogic transactions.