Kochi, June 5, 2026
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Shone George on Friday welcomed the Kerala High Court’s decision allowing the Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigation into the alleged monthly payment case involving Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL), saying the court judgment proved that the Indian legal system could not be bought.
The case pertains to alleged illegal gratification received by Veena Vijayan’s IT firm Exalogic from CMRL.
Veena Vijayan is the daughter of former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and also the wife of Beypore CPI-M legislator and former State Minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas.
Reacting to the division bench order, Shone George said there was no need for the investigating agency to collect fresh evidence in the case.
He added that the case raised by Congress leader Mathew Kuzhalnadan and the one pursued by him were different in nature.
“There is no immunity for a criminal offence that has taken place,” Shone George said, alleging that irregularities had occurred in a company in which the state government has a shareholding.
He also alleged that the invoice submitted for the GST payment was fake and related to services that were not provided.
The BJP leader claimed that the state government, too, could initiate a case if it wanted to.
He alleged that Veena Vijayan was only an intermediary and that the ultimate responsibility lay elsewhere.
The payments made by CMRL, he alleged, were aimed at securing undue benefits and amounted to nepotism.
The High Court on Friday dismissed the appeal filed by CMRL challenging the continuation of the ED probe and upheld the agency’s right to proceed with the investigation.
The court also rejected the company’s plea seeking a two-week stay on the court order to enable it to approach the Supreme Court.
CMRL had said that the ED could not conduct an investigation without registering an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR).
The court rejected this contention, holding that the argument was not legally sustainable.
The petition had been filed by CMRL Managing Director Sashidharan Kartha and five company officials, who claimed that the central agency’s investigation amounted to a violation of their fundamental rights.
The ED probe relates to allegations surrounding payments made by CMRL to various individuals and entities.
The matter had gained political attention following allegations of financial transactions involving the company and persons linked to the ruling establishment.(Agency)
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