ED questions Veena Vijayan for second time
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday quizzed Veena Vijayan, daughter of former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, for the second time in connection with the Cochin Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) case. The fresh round of questioning was based on documents collected earlier by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) as part of its probe into the transaction, sources said.
SFIO documents trigger fresh quizzing
The ED's latest move comes after the SFIO submitted additional evidence related to financial irregularities in the CMRL project. According to officials, the documents pointed to potential money laundering and undue benefits in the award of contracts. The agency is examining the role of Veena Vijayan, who is a director in a private firm that allegedly received payments from companies linked to the CMRL project.
Background of the CMRL case
The CMRL case involves alleged corruption in the awarding of contracts for the Kochi metro project during Pinarayi Vijayan's tenure as Chief Minister. The ED had earlier registered a money laundering case based on a state police complaint. The SFIO, under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, has been investigating the financial transactions of companies involved.
Political reactions
The questioning has sparked political controversy, with the opposition BJP and Congress accusing the Vijayan government of nepotism and corruption. However, the ruling CPI(M) has dismissed the allegations as politically motivated. Pinarayi Vijayan has maintained that the case is a conspiracy by his political rivals.
