Kochi: Enforcement Directorate (ED), probing the CMRL-Exalogic case, questioned the chief financial officer (CFO) of Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL), K S Suresh Kumar, on Monday. Kumar appeared at the ED Kochi zonal office on Monday around 11am.The official deposed before the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) as well during the latter’s probe. Sources said that ED is likely to question the financial manager and a senior clerk of CMRL on Tuesday.Earlier, ED questioned Shiby S Kartha, daughter of CMRL managing director Sasidharan Kartha, his son Saran and wife Jaya, who holds positions in CMRL and sister firms.ED also questioned leader of opposition Pinarayi Vijayan’s daughter Veena T for nine hours on Wednesday. The agency has issued another summons directing her to appear before the agency for questioning on June 29.Two days after she was questioned on Wednesday, the central agency sleuths inspected her bank lockers.The SFIO probe into CMRL revealed alleged fraudulent cash expenses of Rs 182 crore over a span of 15 years. ED’s allegation is that one of the fake expenses booked by CMRL was towards a payment to Veena. ED claims that her company, Exalogic Solutions Pvt Ltd, allegedly received fraudulent payments totalling Rs 2.78 crore from CMRL under the guise of IT consultancy services.Further, ED says that Empower India Capital Investment Pvt Ltd (EICPL), operated by CMRL managing director Sasidharan Kartha, extended loans to Exalogic totalling Rs 50 lakh despite Exalogic failing to make timely repayments.
