The Kerala High Court has dealt a significant blow to Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) by rejecting its appeal, effectively clearing the way for the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to continue its investigation. The probe concerns the controversial monthly payoff case involving Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s daughter, T. Veena.
CMRL had challenged the ED’s jurisdiction. Crucially, the court ruled that the ED is not barred from initiating civil action even in the absence of a registered FIR in the underlying predicate offence, enabling the continued examination of financial trails.
