Governor Acknowledges Seriousness of Findings Against Chief Minister’s Daughter

Governor Arif Mohammad Khan has remarked that the recent findings by the Income Tax Interim Settlement Board against Veena Vijayan, the daughter of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, carry significant weight. He clarified that the matter will undergo a thorough investigation. The governor emphasized that comprehensive details regarding the financial transactions are yet to be received, but the severity of the findings is evident.

Furthermore, he indicated that a decision on whether to request an explanation from the Chief Minister regarding this issue will be made at a later time. The Governor stressed the importance of gaining a clear understanding of the situation.

The Governor’s response was prompted by the revelation that Veena had been receiving a monthly sum of Rs 1.72 crore from a private company named Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) over a three-year period. The Income Tax department has asserted that the total amount of Rs 1.72 crore received by Veena and Exalogic between 2017 and 2020 was an illicit transaction. A bench within the settlement board, comprising Amrapali Das, Rameshwar Singh, and M Jagadish Babu, has concluded that the Income Tax Department has strong evidence indicating that the payment was made for services that were never rendered.