CMRL pay-off case: HC serves notice on Kerala CM, daughter, others politicians

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala High Court on Friday issued notices to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter and many other politicians, including Congress and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leaders, on a petition alleging that they received illegal gratifications from a controversial mining firm.

A report of the Income Tax Interim Settlement Board had mentioned that Kochi-based mining firm Cochin Minerals and Rutiles Limited (CMRL) paid Rs 1.72 crore to the chief minister's daughter Veena Vijayan's Bengaluru-based Information Technology firm without receiving any service.

However, Vijayan had maintained that the payments to his daughter were part of legal business contracts. He had also denied the allegations that he took funds from the firm.

The report also mentioned that many other politicians also received funds from the mining firm. The documents recovered by the Income Tax (I-T) department from the firm mentioned the names of politicians in abbreviations.

Anti-corruption activist Gireesh Babu had sought a vigilance probe into the accusations in the I-T department's report. However, a Vigilance special court had earlier rejected the plea, maintaining that only general allegations were made without sufficient evidence.

Although Babu filed a review petition in the High Court, he passed away when the court was about to hear his petition. Subsequently, the high court appointed an amicus curiae to examine the matter.

Based on that, the HC on Friday decided to send notices to Vijayan, his daughter and other politicians mentioned in the I-T department's report. It includes Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala and IUML leader P K Kunhalikutty.

The Congress and IUML leaders had earlier stated that political parties used to collect money for  party funds.  Nonetheless, they raised suspicion over the payments given to the Chief Minister's daughter.

Incidentally, CMRL is a company that has faced allegations of illegal mineral sand mining from the Kollam and Alappuzha coasts in south Kerala.