Enforcement Directorate summons former Keralam Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in CMRL pay-off case

The Enforcement Directorate has summoned former Keralam Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to appear for questioning at its zonal office in Kochi on October 23, 2026. The central agency issued this notice in connection with the ongoing money-laundering probe linked to the Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited and Exalogic pay-off case.

Legal Battles

This marks the first time the agency has summoned Mr. Vijayan in the matter. The action comes after the Enforcement Directorate registered two Enforcement Case Information Reports under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act against Mr. Vijayan, his daughter T. Veena, and his son-in-law and former Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas. Ms. Veena is named as an accused in both reports, while the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau has also registered separate cases following court directions. Mr. Vijayan approached the Supreme Court on Friday, October 16, 2026, to appeal a Single Bench direction of the Kerala High Court to register an FIR, with his lawyer noting that the 82-year-old leader faces the risk of arrest. A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court had earlier dismissed appeals filed by Mr. Vijayan, Ms. Veena, and Mr. Riyas.

Allegations and Financial Flows

Investigators accuse Mr. Vijayan of receiving a bribe of ₹3.28 crore through his daughter, based on the alleged admission of the company's former Chief Financial Officer Suresh Kumar that payments were made due to public relations avenues and her relationship with her father. Mr. Riyas faces accusations regarding bribe receipts and transferring funds to Dubai, while Ms. Veena allegedly assisted in collecting and routing these funds through her now-defunct firm Exalogic Solutions, which was purportedly used for sham payments. CMRL Managing Director S.N. Sasidharan Kartha was accused of paying bribes, and sister concern Empower India Capital Investments Private Limited was accused of transferring them. Last month, the agency claimed to have discovered handwritten accounts maintained by Ms. Veena regarding ₹85 lakh allegedly transferred to Dubai, noting names of persons and amounts handled.

Context

High-profile financial investigations in India frequently involve parallel probes by central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate alongside state anti-corruption bodies when complex corporate transactions and political figures intersect. Such cases typically examine whether commercial payments disguised as service fees or consultancy contracts actually served as channels for political bribery or money laundering. The legal disputes often center on whether initial findings by tax authorities or financial investigators provide sufficient grounds for criminal courts to order formal police investigations.