CMRL money-laundering case: ED summons ex-Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan for questioning on October 23
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to appear before investigators at its zonal office in Kochi on October 23, 2026, for questioning in connection with the money-laundering probe linked to the Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL)–Exalogic pay-off case.
Background to the summons
The ED has registered two Enforcement Case Information Reports (ECIRs) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) naming Mr. Vijayan, his son-in-law and former Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas, and his daughter T. Veena as accused. The case centres on alleged financial transactions between CMRL and Ms. Veena’s now-defunct information technology firm, Exalogic Solutions.
The latest summons comes amid parallel legal and investigative actions. On Friday, October 16, 2026, Mr. Vijayan approached the Supreme Court to challenge a Single Bench order of the Kerala High Court directing the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against him and co-accused. A day earlier, on October 15, a Division Bench of the High Court dismissed pleas filed by Mr. Vijayan, Ms. Veena, and Mr. Riyas seeking leave to appeal against the Single Judge’s order.
Key allegations by the ED
According to the ED’s findings submitted in the case, Mr. Vijayan allegedly received a bribe of ₹3.28 crore through his daughter. The allegation is stated to be based on the purported admission of CMRL’s former Chief Financial Officer, Suresh Kumar, during the course of the probe.
The ED has further alleged that Mr. Riyas was involved in the “receipt of bribes and transfer of such bribe funds to Dubai through Ms. Veena and known associates.” The agency claims Ms. Veena “assisted Mr. Vijayan and Mr. Riyas in collecting and routing bribe funds,” adding that Exalogic Solutions was used for “routing sham payments.”
The managing director of CMRL, S.N. Sasidharan Kartha, has been accused by the agency of paying bribes as part of the alleged scheme, while Empower India Capital Investments Private Limited, a sister concern of CMRL, has been accused of facilitating transfers.
Recent investigative developments
Last month, the ED said it had recovered “certain handwritten accounts maintained by Ms. Veena” that purportedly pertain to ₹85 lakh allegedly transferred to Dubai. According to the agency, the notes include names of individuals, amounts handled, and expenditures, in addition to the amount said to have been moved overseas. The ED stated that all persons named in the notes were covered during search operations, including an individual who had provided a SIM card.
Parallel vigilance action in Kerala
The ED’s move follows the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) registering two separate cases relating to the alleged financial dealings between CMRL and Exalogic Solutions. The VACB’s action has added a state-level investigative track to the central agency’s money-laundering probe.
Legal trajectory
The Kerala High Court’s Single Bench had directed that an FIR be registered against Mr. Vijayan and the other accused, a decision that the trio sought to challenge. The Division Bench’s dismissal on October 15 of their pleas to file an appeal effectively left the Single Judge’s order intact. In response, Mr. Vijayan moved the Supreme Court on October 16 seeking relief against the High Court directive. The outcome of that appeal is awaited.
What comes next
Mr. Vijayan has been directed to appear before the ED in Kochi on October 23 for questioning in the PMLA case tied to the alleged CMRL–Exalogic pay-offs. The ongoing central probe, alongside the VACB’s twin cases, means the allegations will continue to be examined across multiple investigative forums. Further proceedings will depend on the outcome of the ED’s interrogation, the Supreme Court appeal, and any subsequent legal or investigative actions.
The case remains under active investigation. All allegations are subject to judicial scrutiny, and culpability, if any, will be established through due process of law.
