The Enforcement Directorate (ED) received a copy of the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) charge sheet on Tuesday, heightening fears for Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his daughter Veena Vijayan, as her name has been mentioned in the charge sheet as an accused.
The SFIO last week filed the charge sheet on a suspected illegal transaction between Veena Vijayan's defunct IT firm Exalogic and Kochi-based Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL). According to the probe, Exalogic was given a monthly gratification of about Rs 2.70 crore by CMRL for obtaining mining sanctions.
Having gone through the charge sheet, the court has taken the first steps towards issuing summons to all concerned in the corruption case.
In the meantime, the ED has started a preliminary investigation into the case, with Karnataka and Kerala High Courts having earlier rejected petitions made by Veena as well as state-owned KSIDC, which has an interest in CMRL.
Veena Vijayan and the other accused are thinking of moving a higher court seeking a stay on SFIO proceedings. But they will have to wait for receiving the summons, which is generating anxiety as the case moves forward.
With the Kochi economic offences court now dealing with the case and the SFIO having restricted powers under the Public Money Laundering Act, the ED, which has the jurisdiction in such matters, can arrest people involved in the probe, providing additional stress for Veena Vijayan.
Chief Minister Vijayan and the CPI(M) have again expressed their willingness to take on the case both legally as well as politically.
Vijayan, who was fed up with the media coverage, blamed the media for constantly hounding him and demanding his resignation.
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