KOCHI: In a key legal development, the Kerala High Court on Thursday agreed to hear a petition seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged “monthly payment” case involving Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s daughter, Veena Vijayan.
The matter will now be examined in detail by a new bench chaired by Justice Anil Narendran.
The court has formally admitted the petition and issued notices to all respondents.
The petition, filed by journalist M.R. Ajayan, demands that the investigation be handed over to the CBI based on documents of the Interim Settlement Board, which allegedly indicate financial transactions between Veena’s IT firm, Exalogic, and Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd. (CMRL).
The petitioner argues that the records suggest payments were made without corresponding services being rendered, warranting a central investigation.
Apart from Veena and Exalogic, other respondents include CMRL, its senior official Sashidharan Kartha, and officials of CMRL.
Notably, this comes after two separate division benches of the High Court had earlier recused themselves from hearing the plea.