Delhi High Court Dismisses Stay on SFIO Investigation into IT Firm Linked to Kerala CM's Daughter
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Synopsis
The Delhi High Court has declined to stay the SFIO investigation into Exalogic, the IT firm linked to Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan's daughter, after the Kerala High Court previously rejected similar pleas. The ongoing probe is nearing completion.
Key Takeaways
- Delhi High Court rejects CMRL's petition to halt SFIO investigation.
- Judge indicates a fresh review of the ongoing case.
- SFIO asserts that CMRL's payments to Exalogic were corrupt.
- Kerala High Court had earlier dismissed similar investigation requests.
- Investigation is anticipated to continue without interruptions.
New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram, April 3 (NationPress) A week after the Kerala High Court rejected two petitions advocating for an inquiry by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Department concerning allegations that the IT company Exalogic, owned by Veena Vijayan, the daughter of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, received monthly kickbacks from Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) for mining permits, the Delhi High Court on Thursday declined the mining firm’s request to halt the ongoing Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) investigation.
As the case was presented in the Delhi High Court on Thursday, it was addressed by a new bench due to the previous judge's transfer to the Allahabad High Court.
The new judge indicated that he would reconsider the matter, while the counsel for CMRL requested a stay on all proceedings.
This request was vehemently contested by the SFIO, which asserted that its investigation is nearing completion.
Consequently, the judge denied the stay requested by CMRL.
Kerala BJP leader Shaun George, a participant in the case, remarked that with the stay being rejected, the SFIO can continue its work effectively.
"The investigation will proceed without any obstacles. After receiving the prosecution sanction from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, the SFIO can file their complaint in the special court," George stated.
The SFIO has consistently maintained in the Delhi High Court that the payments made by CMRL to Exalogic amounted to corruption, ensuring smooth operations for CMRL.
In the Kerala High Court, the same issue was raised by Congress legislator Mathew Kuzhalnadan and another parties seeking a Vigilance inquiry, but the court informed them that based on the current evidence presented, it could not issue an order and advised them to return with more credible evidence.
Conversely, in the Delhi High Court, it was CMRL that filed a plea requesting the quashing of the SFIO investigation.
This matter initially emerged when a statement from the Income Tax Settlement Board indicated that Exalogic received Rs 1.72 crore from CMRL, which was categorized as illegal gratification, as no services were rendered by the IT firm.
Notably, two prior petitions challenging the SFIO investigation into the CMRL-Exalogic transactions, one in the Kerala High Court and another in the Karnataka High Court, were dismissed.
The only reprieve that Pinarayi Vijayan and his daughter have obtained thus far is when last week, the Kerala High Court declined a Vigilance investigation.
