Kerala Vigilance and Anti‑Corruption Bureau registered two FIRs on Monday, naming former chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter Veena Vijayan and former minister PA Mohammed Riyas. The first FIR alleges monthly payments from Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited to Veena’s IT firm Exalogic Solutions, with Vijayan listed as the first accused. The second FIR points to alleged hawala transactions involving Riyas, naming him as the prime accused and Veena as the second. The cases were filed at the behest of a High Court directive issued on October 9 that ordered the bureau to register an FIR and investigate the matter.
The CMRL‑Exalogic saga began when the Income Tax Department flagged ₹1.72 crore paid to Exalogic, prompting the Serious Fraud Investigation Office and Enforcement Directorate to probe. The ED later alleged that ₹3.28 crore paid by CMRL amounted to bribes intended for Vijayan, and that the funds were routed through hawala channels. Exalogic, now defunct, was owned by Veena, who has maintained that the payments were legitimate business transactions. The bureau’s filing marks the first criminal step in a case that has lingered in the courts for months.
Justice A Badharudeen’s order on October 9 overturned the state government’s preliminary inquiry plan, declaring that a prompt FIR was necessary. He rejected the notion that a special team could suffice, emphasizing that the ED’s material presented cognisable offences. The High Court’s ruling compels the Vigilance department to launch a full investigation without delay. Vijayan is expected to challenge the order in the same court, but the bureau must proceed with the two FIRs.
Vijayan has dismissed the ED’s allegations as baseless, insisting that the transactions with Exalogic were ordinary business dealings. The CPI(M) has accused the central agency of political targeting, arguing that the case is a tool against the party’s leadership. No statements have yet come from the bureau’s investigators, but officials say the probe will examine the payment records and hawala links. The next hearing is scheduled for next month, when the court will hear arguments on the legality of the FIRs and the scope of the investigation.
The case underscores a broader debate over corruption checks in Kerala, with politicians and activists watching closely. Residents of the region, many who rely on CMRL for employment, have voiced concerns about the implications for public funds. As the investigation unfolds, the state’s political landscape may feel the tremors of a prolonged legal battle.