The Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) has named Veena Vijayan, daughter of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, as an accused in the chargesheet filed by the agency in the Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) financial fraud case. Veena is booked under section 447 (Punishment of fraud) of the CA Act. The offense is punishable with imprisonment for a term of at least six months, but which may extend up to ten years.
According to reports, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs on Thursday, April 3, has granted permission for prosecution proceedings against Veena.
The (SFIO) investigation found irregularities in the transactions of CMRL and Exalogic Solutions Private Ltd , Veena’s consulting agency. The chargesheet accuses Veena of fraudulent payment of Rs 2.7 crore made by CMRL to her company, without providing any services. The Delhi High Court on April 3 refused the CMRL’s petition seeking to stay the ongoing SFIO investigation.
The SFIO has registered multiple charges under the Companies Act (CA), 2013 against the accused individuals regarding the fraudulent payment cases..
Earlier, in the Kerala High Court, the same case was brought by Congress legislator Mathew Kuzhalnadan and another person, seeking a Vigilance probe, but the court informed the petitioner that with the present set of evidence produced before the court, it cannot give an order and told him that if he desires, he can return with more authentic evidence.
Following the chargesheet, the opposition demands the resignation of Pinarayi Vijayan as his daughter is involved in a fraudulent case. “The SFIO has named Kerala CM's daughter Veena Vijayan as an accused in the charge sheet, solidifying the corruption allegations raised by the opposition. Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan lost the moral authority to remain in office,” VD Satheesan, leader of Opposition, wrote on X.
With IANS inputs