ED calls Pinarayi on October 23, and Kerala's ruling Congress finds the case pointing back at itself

Kochi: The Enforcement Directorate has summoned former chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan to its Kochi office on October 23 in connection with the alleged CMRL-Exalogic financial case. The names of his daughter T. Veena and son-in-law, former PWD minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas, also figure in the same probe.
The ED has examined payments made by Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd to Exalogic Solutions, a now-defunct IT firm owned by Veena. Amounts of Rs 2.78 crore paid to Veena and Exalogic, plus Rs 50 lakh from a CMRL group company — a total of Rs 3.28 crore cited in court proceedings — are at the centre of the case.
The politics, however, has shifted to the state government's own handling of the matter. The Kerala High Court held on October 9 that the material forwarded by the ED was sufficient to warrant an FIR and directed the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau to register a case instead of pursuing a preliminary inquiry. Two FIRs were registered on October 12.
Congress MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan, who has pursued the allegations for years, criticised what he called the government's 'soft' approach. Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala rejected the criticism, saying decisions were taken on legal advice and the government would not settle scores.
CPI(M) state secretary M.V. Govindan alleged that the state government had joined hands with the ED to target Vijayan. The Supreme Court is expected to take up the matter by October 26.
The Supreme Court is expected to hear the matter by October 26, and Vijayan may not appear for questioning before then, according to sources. The CPI(M) has said it will pursue legal and political measures to challenge the proceedings. The ED has also registered separate Enforcement Case Information Reports against Vijayan, Veena and Riyas.