Veena T Seeks to Postpone ED Inquiry in Money Laundering Case

Request to Delay ED Inquiry

Veena T, the daughter of former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, has requested the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to postpone her questioning related to a money laundering case involving Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL). Sources revealed this information on Thursday.

The ED had summoned Veena to appear before its investigation team at its Kochi office on Friday. However, she recently sent an email to the agency citing health issues as the reason for her request to delay the appearance.

Additionally, she informed the agency that all necessary documents would be submitted through her lawyer shortly.

Details of the Investigation

According to ED sources, the agency is considering issuing a new summons with a revised date for her appearance. The investigation pertains to allegations that CMRL made a payment of ₹2.78 crore to Veena's IT consulting firm, Exalogic Solutions Private Limited, without receiving any services in return.

The ED also claims that another company, Empower India Capital Investments Private Limited, managed by CMRL's Managing Director Shashidharan Kartha, lent ₹50 lakh to Exalogic, which reportedly failed to make timely repayments.

The agency alleges that these transactions allowed Shashidharan Kartha and CMRL management associated with Veena to 'earn income from crime.' This case was registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in April 2025, based on a prosecution complaint filed by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) in an Ernakulam court. The SFIO is the investigative arm of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

CMRL came under scrutiny from central agencies following the discovery of irregularities, including approximately ₹130 crore in suspicious and allegedly fraudulent expenses, during an income tax raid in January 2019. Last month, the ED conducted searches at ten locations linked to this case, including properties associated with Veena and her husband, former minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas.