CM Pinarayi Vijayan Had No Personal Gain In CMRL-Exalogic Transactions, All Property Legally Accounted For: Govt Tells Kerala High Court

The Kerala government has informed the High Court that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan received no personal gains from the transactions between State-owned Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) and Exalogic Solutions, a company owned by his daughter Veena Thaikandiyil.

Director General of Prosecution TA Shaji informed single bench of Justice K. Babu that the transactions were based on a "legal agreement" between the two companies, all properties in relation to the transactions were "legally accounted for" and the CM received no money therefrom.

The development comes in a review petition filed by Congress MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan, challenging a Special Court order which dismissed his complaint against the CM and his daughter.

It is alleged that senior officials of CMRL paid Rs. 1.72 crore to Veena's Company Exalogic Solutions to obtain favours from the CM. Petitioner claimed the Managing Director and employees of CMRL had disclosed that payments were made in the guise of availing Exalogic's IT and marketing consultancy but no such services were rendered.

Shaji argued that the "mere allegations" cannot form the basis to approach a Court of law. He submitted that alleged statements of CMRL employees (made to the Income Tax Settlement Board) is not a cognizable material and in any case, they were later redacted.

Adv. Gilbert George Correya appearing for the CM submitted that as per Rule 16 of Income Tax Settlement Commission (Procedure) Rules, the proceedings before the Board is not open to public. Thus, alleged submissions made by CMRL employees to the Settlement Board cannot be inspected or investigated.

The matter is now posted on 7^th August for further hearing.