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Vigilance moved against pay-off to Kerala CM’s daughter

A complaint has been filed with Director of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) seeking an investigation into the findings of…

Vigilance moved against pay-off to Kerala CM’s daughter

Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau

A complaint has been filed with Director of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) seeking an investigation into the findings of the Income Tax Interim Settlement Board (ITISB) that Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s daughter Veena Vijayan received payment from a mining company, the Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL), without providing them any service to them.

The complaint was filed by an activist, Girish Babu, a native of Kalamassery.

Girish Babu, in his complaint, demanded an investigation against the chief minister and his daughter on the payment made to her by the CMRL. The petitioner also demanded that the VACB should examine whether the payment was made in consideration of her relationship with the chief minister.

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Girish Babu further demanded that a probe should be instituted against political leaders who allegedly received money from the CMRL. It has been reported that the names of political leaders, including Pinarayi Vijayan, former Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala, Muslim league leader PK Kunhalikkutty, former chief minister Oommen Chandy and former minister Ebrahimkunju figured in the jottings of a diary seized by the Income Tax Department from the CMRL.

The New Delhi bench of the Income Tax Interim Settlement Board (ITISB) has found that CM Vijayan’s daughter T Veena received Rs 1.72 crore from the Cochin company for consultancy services that were never provided.

Reports said Veena and her firm, Exalogic Solutions, had entered into an agreement with the private company to provide IT, marketing consultancy, and software services to the latter. However, no services were provided, as the income tax investigation found. The company told the Income Tax Department that the money was, however, paid through monthly installments as per the contract. The Income Tax Disputes Redressal Board found a nexus of prominent personalities behind the transactions.

Girish Babu sought investigation against the accused under the Prevention of Corruption Act. A copy of the order of the ITISB has also been attached with the complaint.

Meanwhile, the CPI-M reportedly decided to ignore the findings of the ITISB. There was a consensus in the party that the chief minister should refrain from commenting on the issue.

Meanwhile, CPI-M state secretary MV Govindan on Monday reportedly stopped a press conference in a huff as a question was raised by some media persons on the issue.

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