The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned Pinarayi Vijayan — former Kerala Chief Minister, current Leader of the Opposition in the Keralam Assembly and a CPI(M) Politburo member — to appear at its Kochi office on Friday, October 23, to give evidence and produce records in the CMRL–Exalogic case. ANI reported the appearance time as 11 AM. IANS reported this is the first time a CPI(M) Politburo member has been summoned by the ED.
On Saturday, October 17, ED officials pasted the summons notice at Vijayan's rented house in Thiruvananthapuram. An ECIR (enforcement case information report) in the matter was registered on October 14.
The case concerns alleged payments by Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) to Exalogic Solutions, a now-defunct firm linked to Vijayan's daughter Veena T. The ED alleges that CMRL improperly transferred Rs 2.78 crore to Exalogic by portraying the payments as fees for IT consultancy services. ANI described the wider proceedings as the Rs 278-crore CMRL–Exalogic case. These are the agency's allegations; they have not been proven in court.
Both the state Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) and the ED have registered cases involving Vijayan, Veena T and Vijayan's son-in-law P. A. Mohamed Riyas, an MLA. On October 9, a Kerala High Court single-judge bench directed the VACB to initiate a criminal case following a report forwarded by the ED; on October 15, a Division Bench dismissed appeals by Vijayan, Veena T and Riyas against that order.
On October 16, the Supreme Court declined an urgent hearing on Vijayan's plea seeking a stay and protection from arrest. The Chief Justice of India said a special bench during the Dussehra vacation would be explored, failing which the matter would be listed on October 26.
ED summons to Pinarayi Vijayan — Kochi, Oct 23 (11 AM per ANI) • ECIR registered Oct 14 • ED alleges Rs 2.78 crore improperly paid by CMRL to Exalogic — an allegation, not proven • VACB and ED both have cases • Supreme Court lists his plea on Oct 26
Sources: ANI; IANS.