CMRL-Exalogic case: ED moves to arraign Veena T, may summon Pinarayi Vijayan
Synopsis
The ED's CMRL-Exalogic probe has reached a turning point: CMRL MD Sasidharan Kartha reportedly told investigators the contract went to Veena T's firm solely because of her father Pinarayi Vijayan's political clout — and that no services were ever rendered. With ₹26 crore in assets frozen and a formal arraignment of Veena imminent, Kerala's most politically charged money laundering case is heading toward its sharpest legal test yet.
Key Takeaways
The ED is preparing to name Veena T as an accused under the PMLA in the CMRL–Exalogic payments case.
CMRL MD Sasidharan Kartha reportedly told the ED the Exalogic contract was awarded due to Pinarayi Vijayan's political influence, and that no services were rendered.
The ED has frozen deposits of ₹16.5 lakh and an additional ₹15.5 lakh linked to Veena T , along with her bank locker.
Assets worth ₹26 crore belonging to Sasidharan Kartha and his family have also been frozen.
Former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is expected to be summoned for questioning once attachment proceedings are cleared by the Adjudicating Authority.
CPI-M and Vijayan have denied all wrongdoing; BJP state vice president Shaun George has called the case evidence of a 'big crime.'
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) money laundering investigation into the CMRL–Exalogic payments case has entered a critical phase in Kochi, with former Kerala Chief Minister and current Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan and his daughter Veena T facing intensifying legal scrutiny following key statements recorded from CMRL Managing Director Sasidharan Kartha. The agency is now preparing to name Veena as an accused under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and is expected to summon her father for questioning in the coming days.
What Kartha Reportedly Told the ED
Sasidharan Kartha reportedly told investigators that the contract with Exalogic Solutions — the IT firm owned by Veena T — was awarded solely because of his close personal relationship with then Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the political influence Vijayan wielded at the time. Kartha is also understood to have informed the ED that neither Veena nor Exalogic rendered any services to CMRL despite receiving payments.
According to reports, this statement was recorded during Kartha's questioning at his residence in April 2024 and is now considered a cornerstone of the agency's money laundering case. Investigators believe the testimony establishes a direct link between the payments and an alleged absence of corresponding services.
Assets Frozen, Attachment Proceedings Under Way
Acting on its findings, the ED has initiated extensive attachment proceedings and filed a detailed report before the Adjudicating Authority under the PMLA. Deposits worth ₹16.5 lakh belonging to Veena T — held in her personal name and through companies linked to her — have been frozen. An additional ₹15.5 lakh has also been frozen, and her bank locker has been brought under attachment proceedings.
Investigators noted that Veena's personal bank account held only ₹1.37 lakh at the time of verification, while Exalogic's account carried a balance of just ₹27,585. Despite the modest balances, the ED has maintained that attaching these assets is essential to preserve evidence relating to alleged proceeds of crime.
Separately, assets and financial investments worth ₹26 crore belonging to Sasidharan Kartha and members of his family have also been frozen as part of the same probe.
Political Reactions
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) and Pinarayi Vijayan have consistently and flatly denied any wrongdoing in the case. P.A. Mohammed Riyas, a CPI-M legislator and former minister who is also Veena's husband, said he was unaware of the latest developments and was unable to comment.
By contrast, Shaun George, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state vice president and petitioner in the case, said the situation was now very clear and expressed confidence that 'a big crime has been committed.'
What Happens Next
Once the Adjudicating Authority clears the attachment proceedings, the ED is expected to escalate its probe significantly. Notices for further questioning — including to former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan — are likely to be issued in the coming days. The agency's next steps will be closely watched, as the outcome of the attachment proceedings could determine the pace at which formal charges are framed under the PMLA. This comes amid broader scrutiny of political-business nexus cases across several states, making the Kerala probe a nationally watched test of PMLA enforcement.
Point of View
The ED will have a rare insider account directly linking a government contract to political patronage — a much harder evidentiary bar to clear than asset attachment alone. What mainstream coverage underplays is the structural question: CMRL is a public sector entity, and the alleged routing of payments to a CM's daughter's firm, without services rendered, points to a systemic failure of procurement oversight, not merely individual misconduct. The CPI-M's blanket denials are politically predictable, but Vijayan's expected summons will test whether the party's narrative holds once the former CM faces investigators directly.
NationPress
25 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CMRL-Exalogic ED case about?
The case involves alleged money laundering linked to payments made by CMRL to Exalogic Solutions , an IT firm owned by Veena T , daughter of former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan . The ED alleges the contract was awarded without any corresponding services being rendered, and is investigating whether the payments were facilitated by political influence.
What did CMRL MD Sasidharan Kartha tell the ED?
Kartha reportedly told the ED that the contract with Exalogic was awarded solely because of his close relationship with then Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the influence Vijayan wielded. He is also understood to have stated that neither Veena nor Exalogic rendered any services to CMRL despite receiving payments, according to reports.
What assets has the ED frozen in this case?
The ED has frozen deposits worth ₹16.5 lakh and an additional ₹15.5 lakh linked to Veena T , as well as her bank locker. Assets and financial investments worth ₹26 crore belonging to Sasidharan Kartha and members of his family have also been frozen.
Will Pinarayi Vijayan be summoned by the ED?
According to reports, the ED is expected to summon former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for questioning as part of the probe. Notices are likely to be issued once the Adjudicating Authority clears the ongoing attachment proceedings under the PMLA.
What has been the political response to the ED action?
The CPI-M and Pinarayi Vijayan have flatly denied any wrongdoing. P.A. Mohammed Riyas , Veena's husband and a CPI-M legislator, said he was unaware of the latest developments. BJP state vice president Shaun George , who is also a petitioner in the case, said the situation was now clear and expressed confidence that a major crime had been committed.
