ED findings provide grounds for corruption case against Pinarayi Vijayan, Riyas, Veena

Kochi: A legal opinion obtained by the Kerala government has confirmed sufficient evidence to register a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act against Kerala Opposition Leader and former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter T Veena, and her husband, MLA and former minister P A Mohammed Riyas, Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) Managing Director Sasidharan Kartha and others, based on evidence furnished by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The probe centres on alleged financial transactions between CMRL and Veena's now-defunct company, Exalogic Solutions Pvt Ltd, as well as alleged hawala transactions. Advocate General Jaju Babu's opinion is also backed by a detailed assessment by Director General of Prosecution (DGP) T Asaf Ali. It draws on the Income Tax Department's Interim Settlement Board report on the payment and receipt of money, as well as statements recorded by the ED.