The Kerala High Court on Monday is holding the final hearing on Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited’s (CMRL) plea challenging the ED’s probe into the CMRL-Exalogic transactions case. The ED probe concerns payments totalling ₹2.78 crore made by CMRL to Veena Vijayan and her IT firm, Exalogic Solutions Private Limited.

CMRL, on May 29, approached the Division Bench of the HC against a Single Bench verdict that upheld the ED’s jurisdiction in the case. CMRL’s writ appeal challenges the May 26 judgment of Justice T R Ravi, which had dismissed its plea to quash the ED’s Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) and related summonses issued under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

A day after the Single Bench verdict, officials conducted raids at around 10 locations linked to the case, including the residences of former Chief Minister and current Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter Veena Vijayan, and senior CMRL executives. Investigating agencies have alleged that these payments were made without corresponding services being rendered, an allegation denied by all parties involved.