The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to appear in Kochi on 23 October 2026 in the CMRL–Exalogic money laundering investigation. The agency alleges that Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited paid ₹2.78 crore to Exalogic Solutions, a now-defunct company linked to Vijayan’s daughter, Veena T, purportedly for consultancy services. The summons follows state police FIRs and legal proceedings concerning the alleged transactions. Vijayan has challenged the FIR-related order, and the allegations have not been established as proven guilt.

Pinarayi Vijayan Summoned by ED on October 23 in CMRL Money Laundering Case

The Enforcement Directorate has issued a notice to Pinarayi Vijayan in connection with a money laundering investigation into alleged payments made by Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited to a firm linked to his daughter, Veena Vijayan.

In a major development in the CMRL-related money laundering probe, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has called former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to appear before it in Kochi on October 23.

The summons were issued after the Kerala High Court ordered registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against Vijayan and his daughter Veena Vijayan on the basis of a complaint by the central agency. Both have denied anything wrong in the matter. 

The 81-year-old veteran Marxist leader has been summoned to appear before the ED office at Kochi for questioning, the report said. The probe is related to alleged payments made by Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) to a company linked to Veena Vijayan.

Vijayan on Friday, October 16, filed a petition before the Supreme Court challenging the Kerala High Court order to register an FIR in the case. The action comes a few days after the Kerala Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) registered two FIRs.

The legal challenge comes as the inquiry enters a new phase amid allegations over financial transactions and payments. The claims remain under investigation, and the summons does not amount to proof of guilt.

Vijayan and his party have always denied wrongdoing. The proceedings would determine how investigating agencies investigate allegations and how they are dealt with through the judicial process.

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ED Alleges Suspicious Transactions Involving Veena Vijayan

In May, the Enforcement Directorate stepped up its investigation and carried out searches at the premises of Veena Vijayan and the CMRL promoters on May 27. During these searches, the investigators are said to have recovered handwritten accounts allegedly maintained by Veena Vijayan.

The files, handwritten, had names, transaction amounts and details of money transfers to Dubai, the agency said. The reports also include documents related to the transfer of some 349,000 UAE dirhams (around Rs 85 lakh) to Dubai.

The ED said the recovered documents had financial transactions of about Rs 20.05 crore in Indian currency. During the searches, investigators seized records as part of their investigation into the alleged financial arrangements.

Veena Vijayan’s digital device had an image of a SIM card registered in the name of another person, the agency said. Investigators believe the SIM card may have been used to make Internet calls.

These findings are part of the ED’s allegations but do not prove criminal liability per se. The significance of the records will be determined through further investigation and evidence presented in court proceedings.

ED Claims Evidence of Hawala Transactions

The agency said that during its searches it seized a number of digital devices and took statements from several people. It has also said it has found evidence of alleged transfers through hawala channels, an informal way of transferring money outside conventional banking channels.

The ED said the amounts shown in the recovered documents were in addition to the known sources of income of Veena Vijayan and in addition to the amounts allegedly received from CMRL. The agency said it will take further action as required by law.

The questioning on Oct. 23 is expected to give investigators a chance to probe the allegations and seek clarification on the transactions. But the report that is available doesn't specify what questions the agency plans to ask.

The case is still under investigation and subject to judicial review. The outcome will depend on the evidence collected, the reactions of those concerned, and the decisions of the competent courts.

The investigation and related legal proceedings are ongoing, and Sprouts News will continue to monitor verified updates.