CMRL pay-off case: PIL seeks CBI probe, high court issues notice to Kerala chief minister, daughter

Kochi: Kerala high court on Wednesday issued notice to chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter T Veena and others in a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking a CBI probe into the alleged financial transactions between Kochi-based Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) and Veena's company, Exalogic Solutions Pvt Ltd, before admitting the petition.

The bench comprising Justices Amit Rawal and P M Manoj further directed the Union govt to submit, in a sealed cover, the list of individuals named in the order of the Interim Settlement Board under the income tax department in connection with the transactions involving CMRL. The matter has been posted for further hearing on May 27.

The PIL was filed by M R Ajayan, a senior journalist from North Paravur in Ernakulam, who also sought an investigation into the alleged political nexus between the companies and the chief minister. The petition relies on findings recorded by the Interim Settlement Board, which held that the payment of Rs 1.72 crore to Veena during the assessment years 2017–18 to 2019–20 did not qualify as business expenditure. It is further alleged that a CMRL official informed the board that no services were rendered by Exalogic Solutions despite the payments.

During the hearing, additional solicitor general A R L Sundaresan informed the court that the Serious Fraud Investigation Office had completed its investigation into the matter and filed a report before the special court. The special court has already taken cognisance of the offence. The division bench also noted that, in a related challenge to the proceedings before the special court, a single bench had issued an interim order directing that the status quo be maintained.