CMRL-Exalogic case: Two VACB teams to probe Pinarayi Vijayan, Mohammed Riyas, Veena

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 14 (IANS) The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau has formed two special teams to investigate separate cases against former Kerala Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter T. Veena, her husband, former Minister Mohammed Riyas and others.

Vigilance Director Manoj Abraham on Wednesday ordered the formation of the teams.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Thomson Jose will supervise both investigations.

Superintendent of Police (SP) E.N. Suresh will lead the investigation into the case in which Vijayan is the first accused.

Kozhikode Special Cell SP Balakrishnan will investigate the case in which Riyas is the first accused.

Both cases were registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

They followed a Kerala High Court order based on an Enforcement Directorate (ED) report.

Vijayan’s daughter, T. Veena, is the second accused in both cases.

The first case relates to alleged payments made by Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) to Veena’s company, Exalogic, during the first Pinarayi Vijayan government.

The ED alleged that Exalogic received Rs 3.28 crore from CMRL for services that were not provided.

It claimed that the payments were made because of political influence and amounted to a bribe to Vijayan.

Vijayan is the first accused, and Veena is the second accused in this case.

Seven people, including CMRL owner Sasidharan Kartha, have been named as accused.

The second case relates to allegations that Riyas generated illegal funds while serving as a minister and transferred money abroad through hawala channels.

According to the ED’s findings, Riyas and Veena allegedly conspired with some of the former’s friends to transfer money to the United Arab Emirates through intermediaries. The alleged transfer amounted to Rs 85 lakh.

The ED reportedly found handwritten notes during a search of Veena’s residence.

These notes have been cited in connection with the alleged transactions.

The accused had also reportedly discussed a garment export business in Dubai.

Riyas is the first accused, and Veena is the second accused in this case.

Eight people, including Riyas’s friends, have been named as accused.

The two cases relate to allegations from different periods.

The FIRs allege that the accused abused their positions or influence to obtain unlawful financial gains.

The Crime Branch Special Investigation Team has handed over relevant documents to the Vigilance.

These include statements recorded by friends of Riyas.

The Vigilance will now conduct separate investigations into the two cases.

The allegations are yet to be established through the investigation and legal proceedings.

–IANS

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The Finance Minister, who is Chairman of the Cabinet sub-committee formed by the state government to organise celebrations, made this call while chairing a review meeting to assess the ongoing yearlong celebrations being organised by the state government to commemorate the historic 650th Parkash Purab of Guru Ravidass.

Cheema said, “The Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government is facilitating free transit under the Mukh Mantri Teerath Yatra scheme, scheduling regular train and bus services from various districts to Varanasi between April and October.”

“The momentum will culminate in grand Shobha Yatras traversing four major routes connecting Varanasi, Faridkot, Bathinda, and Jammu to Khuralgarh during October and November, mapping out hundreds of kilometres to unite devotees.”

During the meeting, the Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs gave a presentation outlining the month-wise execution plan stretching from February through December 2026.

The extensive celebration calendar began successfully with the 649th Parkash Purab events at Khuralgarh in early February, setting a spiritual foundation that has progressed into a diverse, multi-departmental campaign.

Cheema added that special Kirtan Samagam are being organised across various districts in the state.

After successful spiritual congregations held in Ropar during April, as well as ‘samagams’ in Phagwara on June 2 and Kapurthala on June 6, the Punjab government has finalised upcoming dates for Amritsar on June 13 and Sangrur on June 20, with subsequent events scheduled for Mohali, Pathankot, Phillaur, Jalandhar, and Ludhiana through October under the direct supervision of the respective Deputy Commissioners.

Emphasising the maximisation of public engagement and leveraging modern technology, Finance Minister Cheema said the state government has approved financial outlays for specialised multimedia exhibitions.

A spectacular drone show will be conducted across 92 distinct venues.

A dedicated budget has been sanctioned for documentary screenings across all villages in Punjab, with the specialised agency officially on-boarded as of June 8 to execute these widespread rural broadcasts.

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CM Fadnavis warns Thackeray brothers amid Maha civic poll violence

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The Chief Minister’s remarks came in the wake of a late-night, life-threatening attack on BJP candidate Bhushan Shingane in Nagpur’s Ward 11. Fadnavis visited Shingane’s residence in the Gorewada area to inquire about his health and used the occasion to send a strong political message to rival parties.

Targeting what he described as the “so-called Bhagwa Brigade,” a term often used to refer to volunteer groups associated with the Thackeray-led factions, Fadnavis questioned their selective presence during polling. “Is this Bhagwa Brigade meant only for certain areas? Why are they not seen in Malvani or other sensitive polling booths? Why don’t they go there?” he asked.

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The controversy erupted after unidentified assailants allegedly attacked BJP candidate Bhushan Shingane around midnight. Assuring strict action, the Chief Minister said those responsible would not be spared. “No one involved in the attack on Bhushan Shingane will be let off. If anyone tries to rule through fear, the police will respond accordingly,” he warned.

As Nagpur and several other major cities in Maharashtra go to the polls, tensions between the ruling MahaYuti alliance and the Thackeray brothers continue to dominate the political narrative, prompting heightened security across sensitive areas.

Earlier in the day, following reports of a duplicate voter being caught at a polling booth at Chhabildas School in Mumbai’s Dadar area, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray appealed to his party workers and Shiv Sena cadres to remain vigilant during voting.

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Nominations for Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2025 to close on July 31

New Delhi, May 3 (IANS) For honouring young achievers, the Ministry of Women and Child Development has invited nominations for the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP) 2025 by July 31, an official said on Saturday.

The prestigious national-level award is conferred annually by the President to recognise exceptional achievements of children, aged 5 to 18, in the fields of art and culture, bravery, sports, social service, environment and science and technology.

The objectives of the awards are to celebrate and amplify the achievements of India’s youth in diverse spheres, to inspire peers nationwide by showcasing real-life role models and to foster an enabling environment for children’s holistic development, said a statement.

The official said young achievers can also nominate themselves online.

In a social media post on X, the Ministry said, “Do you know a young hero whose story can inspire the entire nation? Nominate them today at http://awards.gov.in Hurry! The last date to submit is 31st July 2025.”

To apply, young achievers must first register or log in on the portal by providing details such as First Name, Last Name, Date of Birth, Applicant Type (Individual/Organisation), Mobile Number, Email ID, Aadhaar Number, etc. and CAPTCHA verification, said the statement.

It said that once registered, they should select the ‘Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2025’ under the ‘Ongoing Nominations’ section and click on ‘Nominate/Apply Now’. Applicants must then choose the relevant award category and indicate whether the nomination is for themselves or someone else.

The application form requires nominee details, a concise narrative (maximum 500 words) describing the achievement and its impact, and the upload of supporting documents (PDF format, up to 10 attachments) and a recent photograph, said the statement.

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