Accusations Mount as SFIO Report Names Chief Minister’s Daughter in Alleged Payment Scandal
Thiruvananthapuram/Madurai/Kochi, April 4 – A political storm has erupted in Kerala following reports that the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) has implicated T Veena, daughter of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, in an alleged illegal payment case. As opposition parties demand the Chief Minister’s resignation, the CPI(M) has rallied behind him, calling the move "politically motivated."CPI(M) Labels Allegations as Targeted Attack
Senior CPI(M) leaders, including Politburo Coordinator Prakash Karat, Kerala State Secretary M V Govindan, and ministers P Rajeev and K N Balagopal, dismissed the SFIO's reported findings, claiming the action was aimed at tarnishing the image of the party and its leadership.Speaking from Madurai, where the CPI(M) Congress is underway, Govindan accused a "rainbow alliance" — comprising the Congress, BJP, SDPI, and Jamaat-e-Islami — of orchestrating the controversy to discredit the Chief Minister.
CPI(M) leaders asserted that the party would respond to the developments both legally and politically. However, neither CM Vijayan nor T Veena, who is accused of receiving ₹2.70 crore from Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) without providing any services through her defunct IT firm Exalogic, have issued any public statements.
Opposition Demands CM's Resignation on Moral Grounds
Meanwhile, the Congress and BJP stepped up their attacks. Congress general secretary K C Venugopal, speaking in Delhi, backed Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief K Sudhakaran and Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan in calling for Vijayan’s immediate resignation.“This is a serious matter. If the Chief Minister has any moral standing, he should resign. It is a fact that his daughter’s firm received money without offering any services,” said Venugopal.
Echoing the sentiment, Satheesan rejected CPI(M)’s claims of political vendetta, adding, “If it was a political case, the Centre and the Sangh Parivar would have protected the CM.”
Allegations Rooted in Longstanding Accusations
Congress MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan, who originally raised the issue, reiterated his accusations, alleging corruption involving both Vijayan and his daughter. He suggested that the Chief Minister may soon be formally named in the SFIO’s probe.Kuzhalnadan also pointed out that the Kerala High Court had recently struck down a vigilance court's observation that his complaint was politically driven.
BJP Also Steps In with Renewed Demands
BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar joined the chorus, reiterating his call for Vijayan’s resignation. In a Facebook post, Chandrasekhar stated that the SFIO had received approval to prosecute T Veena, which in his view necessitated the Chief Minister stepping down.“If Kerala has to move forward, it must end the politics of corruption and nepotism,” he said.
State Government Cites Legal Precedents
In defence, Law Minister P Rajeev highlighted that three vigilance courts and the Kerala High Court had previously found no evidence of corruption in the financial dealings between CMRL and Exalogic.Notably, just last week, the High Court had dismissed Kuzhalnadan's plea for a vigilance inquiry, citing lack of substantial evidence.
SFIO Probe Reveals ₹182 Crore Fraud in Mining Firm
According to the reported SFIO findings, the broader investigation has uncovered a ₹182 crore financial fraud involving CMRL. The alleged scam included the creation of fake bills and inflation of non-existent expenses. T Veena is among those named in the case, though the probe spans multiple individuals.As political temperatures rise, all eyes are now on how the SFIO proceeds and whether the mounting pressure will lead to a political fallout for the Kerala Chief Minister.
Last updated by a enewsx:
