The Central government is gearing up to tighten the noose against Veena Vijayan, daughter of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs handed over the probe into the affairs of Exalogic Solutions, the firm owned by Veena Vijayan to the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO).
The ministry, in its order issued on Wednesday, asked the SFIO to complete the probe into the allegations against three firms, , including Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) and Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation Industrial (KSIDC), in eight months and submit a report to the Union government.
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A six-member team will probe the matter, with Deputy Director M Arun Prasad as the investigating officer.
The SFIO is armed with the power to make arrests. The move suggests that other investigative mechanisms might have to join in bringing the accused to justice. This elevates the importance of SFIO’s involvement.
Earlier in January, the Centre ordered a probe against the firm for allegedly receiving payment from CMRL without providing any service. The order was issued by the Centre based on the findings of the Income Tax Interim Settlement Board (ITISB) on the payments made to Veena Vijayan’s firm by the CMRL without providing any service.
It is learnt from a preliminary investigation conducted by the Registrar of companies, Bengaluru that the company of CM Vijayan’s daughter committed several violations. The financial transactions between the KSIDC and the CMRL were also brought under the ambit of the probe.