CMRL Scam: Kerala High Court Rejects Pleas Seeking Probe Into Bribery Allegations Against CM Pinarayi Vijayan, Daughter Veena

The Kerala High Court today (March 28) dismissed two revision petitions challenging the Vigilance Court orders refusing to order probes into corruption allegations against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter and other public functionaries of the State.Justice K. Babu ordered, "Criminal revision petitions stand dismissed."The revision petition was filed by Gireesh Babu (since deceased) in 2023 against the dismissal of his plea by Vigilance Court, Muvattupuzha which sought investigation into the alleged bribery carried out by high ranking public officials of the State in connection with the mining and other business interests of the Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL).The petitioner had accused Veena Thaikandiyil (Veena Vijayan), daughter of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and her company Exalogic Solutions Pvt. ltd, for having received illegal consideration under the guise of her father.Apart from the above, other public servants such as the then leader of Opposition and currently a Congress MLA Ramesh Chennithala, MLA Kunhalikutty, former Minister for Public Works V.K. Ibrahim Kunju, and A. Govindan were also named as accused in the matter for having received illegal gratification.CMRL, its Managing Director Sathivilas Narayan Kartha Sasidharan Kartha, the Chief Financial Officer K.S. Suresh Kumar and the Chief General Manager of Finance and Company Secretary P. Suresh Kumar are alleged to have given out bribes for illegal gratification.The petitioner said that the Company paid large sums of money to various individuals and in return they were allowed to mine ilmenite mineral. It was also alleged that monthly payments were made to Exalogic Solutions, the company in which Veena Vijayan was the sole owner and Managing Director, under the bogus head of software services. According to the petitioner, as per verifications done at the corporate office, no such services were rendered by the company.This complaint was dismissed by the Vigilance Court saying that there were only general allegations no prima facie case was made out. Against this, case was filed before the High Court. The Court had appointed Advocate Akhil Vijay as Amicus Curiae to address arguments following Petitioner's death.Subsequently, a petition was also filed by Congress MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan against the dismissal of his plea by the Vigilance Court, Thiruvananthapuram to look into the alleged payments made by CMRL to Exalogica, to obtain favours from the Chief Minister.Case Title: Gireesh Babu v State of Kerala and Another & Dr. Mathew A. Kuzhalnadan v Pinarayi Vijayan and OthersCase No: Crl. Rev. Pet. 890/ 2023 & Crl. Rev. Pet 588/ 2024 Click Here To Read Judgment in Dr. Mathew A. Kuzhalnadan v Pinarayi Vijayan and OthersClick Here To Read Judgment in Gireesh Babu v State of Kerala and Others Detailed Analysis of Judgment in Dr. Mathew A. Kuzhalnadan v Pinarayi Vijayan and Others

CMRL Scam: Kerala High Court Rejects Pleas Seeking Probe Into Bribery Allegations Against CM Pinarayi Vijayan, Daughter Veena

Manju Elsa Isac

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