Vijayan Responds to Media on Daughter's Legal Issues
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Synopsis
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan expressed irritation over media questions regarding his daughter Veena Vijayan's legal troubles. Following a court ruling that denied a stay on the Serious Fraud Investigation Office's probe into allegations of her former IT firm's misconduct, he urged the media to focus on other topics.
Key Takeaways
- Pinarayi Vijayan expresses frustration over media scrutiny.
- Delhi High Court denies stay on SFIO investigation.
- Daughter Veena faces potential legal issues.
- Charge sheet filed regarding illegal payments.
- Political implications for the ruling party.
Thiruvananthapuram, April 9 (NationPress) Following the recent setback experienced by his daughter, Veena Vijayan, after the Delhi High Court denied a stay on the inquiry by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) concerning allegations against her now-defunct IT company for receiving monthly bribes from Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) related to mining permits, a visibly irritated Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan expressed his frustration over media inquiries regarding the matter.
"You (media) want my blood, but will not get it easily. I have reiterated multiple times that this matter is currently in court, so let it conclude," Vijayan stated, attempting to maintain his composure despite the relentless questions from journalists.
“This scrutiny is occurring solely because it involves me. Our party has also voiced similar sentiments. If you have any questions unrelated to this topic, I am willing to respond," he added.
This marked the first occasion in several months that Vijayan addressed the media, and he appeared discontent as reporters pressed him about his daughter's former IT firm and the allegations of illegal payments.
Earlier, during a hearing led by Justice Girish Kathpalia of the Delhi HC, the SFIO's counsel revealed that a charge sheet had already been submitted to a court in Kochi.
The court remarked that there was nothing further to address. However, as the judge was concluding the case, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing CMRL, noted that during a previous hearing by Justice Subramaniom Prasad, the SFIO had indicated they would refrain from further action.
Upon Sibal’s comments, the court, after reviewing the documents, indicated that there was no record of such an assurance in the judicial files.
Nevertheless, as Sibal reiterated the previous oral observation, the court decided to reschedule the case for April 22, as it was this judge to whom the SFIO had purportedly given this assurance.
Meanwhile, with the court’s failure to issue a stay, Veena Vijayan may face challenges, as the Enforcement Directorate has already received the SFIO charge sheet regarding this illegal payment in Kochi.
Reacting to the developments in the Delhi High Court, BJP leader Shaun George, who is also a party in the case, asserted that since no stay was granted, the ED could proceed with the findings in the SFIO charge sheet, which includes allegations of international money transfers.
The SFIO has consistently maintained in the Delhi High Court that the payments made by CMRL to Exalogic amounted to corruption, as these payments were made to facilitate smooth operations for CMRL.
This situation first came to light when a statement from the Income Tax Settlement Board indicated that Exalogic received these illicit payments, with no services rendered by the IT firm. Notably, two petitions challenging the SFIO investigation into the CMRL-Exalogic transactions were previously dismissed in both the Kerala High Court and the Karnataka High Court.
