Kochi, May 29: Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) filed a petition in the Kerala High Court’s division bench on Friday, seeking an immediate halt to the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) money laundering investigation. This action comes just days after raids were conducted at the residences of opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan and offices linked to the company.
The appeal challenges a recent single-bench order that allowed the ED to continue its investigation and directed company officials to cooperate with investigators. CMRL is now requesting immediate intervention from the division bench, arguing that the ED’s parallel investigation lacks legal validity, as the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) is already conducting a thorough inquiry into these transactions.
The company further contends that the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) do not apply to these allegations, thus questioning the ED’s jurisdiction to pursue the case.
This legal move comes amid rapidly unfolding events in a politically sensitive case involving Veena Vijayan and her company, Exalogic Solutions, which allegedly received ₹1.72 crore from CMRL without providing any services.
The ED’s actions began shortly after Justice T.R. Ravi dismissed petitions from CMRL officials seeking to quash the investigation. Within hours of the ruling, ED teams launched coordinated searches at the rented residence of Pinarayi Vijayan in Thiruvananthapuram, as well as at the homes and offices of CMRL’s top executives, including Managing Director Shashidharan Kartha.
These raids have sparked significant political turmoil in the capital, leading to violent protests. Following the searches, CPI(M) activists reportedly attacked ED vehicles.
So far, several CPI(M) activists have been arrested in connection with the attacks.
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