Enforcement Directorate to interrogate Pinarayi Vijayan in CMRL-Exalogic case

KOCHI: Unconfirmed reports say the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is likely to question opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan in the CMRL-Exalogic financial dealing case. There are hints about it in the report given by the ED office in Kochi to the adjudicating authority in Delhi.

The investigation turned towards Pinarayi Vijayan after CMRL MD S N Sasidharan Kartha gave a statement to the ED on April 17. Kartha's statement was that the money was paid to Veena, the director of Exalogic, in the name of his personal relationship with Pinarayi. Moreover, Veena had also clarified in her statement to the ED that the Rs 2.78 crore received for IT consultancy services was for the services not provided.

Based on these statements, the ED is planning to question Pinarayi Vijayan. When ED special director Prashanth Kumar arrived in Kochi last week to review the cases, discussions were held about questioning Pinarayi. However, the directions given to the officials were that he should be questioned only after getting the permission of director Rahul Naveen. Reports say that permission has been given now.

The ED also found that Exalogic, which was at a loss during 2014-15, was able to enter into an agreement with CMRL only after the Pinarayi government came to power in 2016. The ED has frozen 242 accounts of CMRL in connection with the case. Veena's accounts have also been frozen. The Exalogic Company has been closed now.