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The Advocate General (AG) of Kerala has given a legal opinion advising that a First Information Report (FIR) and a formal investigation under the Prevention of Corruption Act can legally be initiated against the Opposition leader and former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter T Veena, and son-in-law and former minister PA Mohamed Riyas.
According to reports, the AG's office gave a nod for action, stating that the material and findings submitted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) provide sufficient basis and evidence to warrant a corruption case.
The AG’s report the state government or Vigilance Department can either register the FIR directly for investigation or conduct a preliminary inquiry first, adding that past court rulings do not act as an absolute bar to registering a case given the fresh information and evidence presented by the ED.
Recently, the ED wrote to the state police chief seeking registration of an FIR against the three and some others, based on evidence gathered during their probe and searches conducted under the PMLA.
In August this year, ED conducted searches at nine premises in Kozhikode in connection with its investigation. Following the raid, ED claimed that handwritten notes of Veena Vijayan, containing details of around Rs 85 lakh allegedly transferred to Dubai, were seized by them. The agency has also alleged that the notes record transactions involving around Rs 20.05 crore in Indian currency.
The case stems from the CMRL–Exalogic pay-off controversy, where Kochi-based firm Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) allegedly paid Rs 2.78 crore to Veena's IT firm, Exalogic Solutions, without receiving actual services.
Earlier in June, the Kerala High Court rejected an appeal filed by CMRL seeking to quash the ED case against it in connection with the alleged money laundering linked to Exalogic Solutions Pvt Ltd. A Division Bench comprising Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and KV Jayakumar upheld the May 26 order of single judge Justice TR Ravi, who had refused to interfere with the ED proceedings.
