Veena T., daughter of former Kerala Chief Minister and current Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan, was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for over eight hours on Wednesday in connection with the money laundering probe involving her former IT firm, Exalogic Solutions Pvt Ltd, and Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) .
Veena arrived at the ED’s zonal office at Kadavanthra around 10:15 am, accompanied by her husband and Beypore MLA P. A. Mohammed Riyas, who dropped her off and left the premises . Security was heavily tightened outside the office in view of the case’s sensitivity and the attack on ED officials during searches at Vijayan’s residence on May 27 . She walked out of the office around 8 pm .
The allegations and ED’s focus
The ED’s interrogation centred on financial transactions between Exalogic and CMRL, particularly ₹2.78 crore paid by CMRL to Exalogic for “IT and Marketing Consultancy” between 2017 and 2020 . Investigators are examining whether any services were actually rendered, as the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) has concluded that no software or consultancy services were provided .
The ED is also investigating a ₹50 lakh loan given to Exalogic by Empower India Capital Investments Private Limited (EICPL), a company where Jaya S. Kartha, wife of CMRL Managing Director Sasidharan Kartha, serves as a director . The agency is examining whether funds paid by CMRL were diverted through related entities to settle private liabilities .
The money laundering case was registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) following an SFIO prosecution complaint filed in April 2025 before a court in Ernakulam . The financial dealings originally came under scrutiny during an Income Tax Department raid in January 2019, which allegedly detected financial irregularities, including suspected fictitious expenses amounting to approximately ₹130 crore .
Previous summons and family questioned
Veena had been initially summoned to appear on June 12 but sought more time citing health issues, a request the ED rejected, issuing fresh summons directing her to appear in person on June 17 .
The ED’s questioning of Veena follows examinations of CMRL officials this week. On Tuesday, the agency questioned Sasidharan Kartha’s wife, Jaya S. Kartha, and son, Saran S. Kartha . On Monday, it questioned his daughter, Shibi Kartha . Investigators are cross-verifying statements and financial records as part of the wider probe .
The ED has already frozen ₹18.36 crore in 242 bank accounts linked to the case and recovered incriminating records and digital evidence during searches at 12 locations, including the Thiruvananthapuram residence of Pinarayi Vijayan and Veena’s house . The agency recently obtained permission from a special court in Kochi to access documents collected by the SFIO .
