Kerala Opposition Leader rejects CM’s argument that SFIO case against daughter is politically motivated
The Hindu
Kerala's Leader of the Opposition rejects CM's claim of political motivation in SFIO case against daughter, hints at organizational changes.
Kerala’s Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan has rejected Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s statement that the Serious Fraud Investigation Organisation (SFIO) case against the latter’s daughter and software entrepreneur T. Veena was politically motivated.
Speaking to reporters at Kodanad in Ernakulam on Thursday, Mr Satheesan said the SFIO case against Ms Veena originated from a filing by Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited, a private firm, before the Income Tax department’s Interim Settlement Board in New Delhi.
He said the CMRL had moved the forum for claiming input tax credits for payments made to various persons and entities, including Ms Veena’s now-defunct IT consultancy firm, Exalogic Solutions Limited.
Mr Satheesan said the IT forum found the CMRL’s deposition unconvincing. The forum doubted whether the fee to Ms Veena’s firm was under-the-table backhanders for political favour.
(Ms Veena’s counsel has denied the imputation and said the board denied her a hearing before reaching a questionable conclusion).
Subsequently, Mr Satheesan said the Union Ministry for Commerce ordered an SFIO investigation based on the board’s findings.
He said the SFIO’s chargesheet against Ms Veena had laid the legal grounds for an investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on money-laundering charges.