The Kerala High Court, in a significant move, has appointed an amicus curiae to aid in the examination of a plea that challenges the decision of the Vigilance Special Court in Muvattupuzha. The court had earlier dismissed the probe into the purported illicit financial transactions between Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s daughter, T Veena, and her company.
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The plea was initiated by social activist Gireesh Babu, who was contesting the vigilance court’s verdict against investigating the financial interactions of the Chief Minister’s daughter and her firm with the Kochi-based entity. In this context, Justice K Babu appointed Advocate Akhil Mohan as the amicus curiae and slated the matter for a hearing on “Thursday, November 2,” as confirmed by a senior government lawyer associated with the case. Advocate B A Aloor, who represents the petitioner, also affirmed this development.
A storm of controversy has recently swept across Kerala, centered on certain financial dealings between the Kochi-based private minerals company and Veena and her IT firm. Evidence has emerged suggesting that the company had dealings with top leaders from both the ruling CPI(M) and the opposition Congress-led UDF.
The issue was thrust into the limelight after Malayala Manorama reported that Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd had disbursed
“a total of Rs 1.72 crore to the CM’s daughter between 2017 and 2020.”
Citing a ruling from an Interim Board for Settlement, the report revealed that the Kochi-based company had previously inked an agreement with Veena’s IT firm for “consultancy and software support services.” Intriguingly, despite the absence of any service rendered by her firm, payments were consistently made on a monthly basis “due to her relationship with a prominent person,” as quoted from the deposition of the minerals company authorities before the Income Tax Department.
In response to these allegations, Chief Minister Vijayan countered, stating that the charges were
“made to tarnish his image and defame him.”
It’s worth noting that Gireesh Babu, who had a reputation for challenging several high-profile corruption cases against political leaders and top bureaucrats, met an untimely demise at his residence in Kalamassery in September of this year.
The unfolding case promises to further unravel the intricate tapestry of financial dealings and political ties in Kerala.
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