CMRL CFO seeks to withdraw statement in Exalogic corruption probe

K. S. Suresh Kumar, the Chief Financial Officer of Cochin Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), has filed an affidavit seeking to withdraw a previous statement given to the Enforcement Directorate (ED). In his original statement, Kumar had linked monthly payments made to Exalogic Solutions to the influence of Veena Vijayan, the daughter of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

Kumar now alleges that ED officials used threats and coercion to obtain his initial testimony. He claims investigators pressured him to name political leaders and refused to record his actual answers during questioning. He is seeking to retract the earlier version of his statement to correct the record.

The ED had previously submitted a report to the Kerala Police seeking action against Pinarayi Vijayan, Veena Vijayan, her husband, and CPI(M) legislator P. A. Mohammed Riyas regarding alleged corruption and money-laundering offenses. The agency interpreted the CMRL payments to Exalogic Solutions as bribes intended for the Chief Minister. The state government is currently seeking legal advice before deciding whether to register a case based on the ED’s request.