Her rebuttal follows SFIO’s final complaint to a Kochi court, alleging Veena’s firm Exalogic Solutions received ₹3 lakh monthly and she personally got ₹5 lakh without providing services to CMRL
Published Apr 26, 2025 | 8:22 PM ⚊ Updated Apr 26, 2025 | 8:22 PM
Kerala CM’s daughter Veena Vijayan denies reports of admission in CMRL payment case Photo: Supplied
Synopsis: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s daughter, Veena Vijayan, on 26 April, denied reports claiming she admitted to receiving payments from Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) without providing services. Terming the allegations “completely untrue,” she clarified she made no such confession to SFIO officials. Her statement comes amid reports that SFIO’s final complaint accused her company of receiving bogus payments
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s daughter, Veena Vijayan, on Saturday, 26 April, rejected reports suggesting she admitted to receiving payments from Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) without providing services.
In a statement, Veena termed the claims “completely untrue,” clarifying that although she had given a statement to Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) officials, she made no confession regarding non-fulfillment of contractual obligations.
She described the circulating allegations as baseless and contrary to facts.
Her rebuttal comes amid reports that the SFIO, in its final complaint filed before a Special Court in Kochi, alleged that Veena’s company, Exalogic Solutions Pvt Ltd, received a ₹3 lakh monthly retainer, and she personally received ₹5 lakh, without offering development or consultancy services to CMRL.
The SFIO cited corroborating statements from Exalogic employees, CMRL’s IT head, and Veena herself.
Meanwhile, the Kerala High Court on 14 April, ordered a two-month status quo on proceedings arising from the SFIO report, providing temporary relief to CMRL and Veena in the ₹197.7 crore financial fraud case.
Justice TR Ravi issued the interim order in response to a petition by CMRL, challenging the Ernakulam Additional Sessions Court-VII’s decision to take cognizance of the SFIO’s complaint.
The Sessions Court had begun proceedings and was preparing to issue notices when the High Court intervened.
The SFIO’s investigation report also claimed that political leaders had received payments to facilitate CMRL’s operations.
Based on its findings, the SFIO filed charges under Sections 129(7), 134(8), 447, and 448 read with Section 447 of the Companies Act, 2013.
However, CMRL and its General Manager (Finance) P Suresh Kumar have challenged the Sessions Court’s cognisance, arguing that the Serious Fraud Investigation Office’s complaint, filed in March-April 2025, should be evaluated under the newly introduced Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which replaced the CrPC and mandates a pre-cognisance hearing.
The High Court’s order for maintaining status quo has temporarily paused the proceedings, offering breathing space to both CMRL and Veena as legal battles continue.
(Edited by Ananya Rao with inputs from Dileep V Kumar)
