CMRL-Exalogic case: Sasidharan Kartha retracts ED statement; alleges force and mental torture

Thiruvananthapuram: An affidavit submitted by CMRL managing director Sasidharan Kartha, retracting a statement that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) claimed he had given against Veena Vijayan and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in the CMRL-Exalogic financial transaction case, has emerged.

In the affidavit, Kartha alleges that ED officials used force to obtain his fingerprints. Details of the affidavit, submitted in 2024 to retract his earlier statement, have now emerged. The affidavit was submitted by Kartha's brother on his behalf.

Kartha also alleges that ED officials mentally tortured him while he was undergoing treatment in hospital. His family has expressed concern over the alleged conduct of the ED officials.

The ED had claimed that Kartha told investigators that money was paid to Veena and her company because of her personal proximity to Pinarayi Vijayan. The agency had also alleged that Kartha stated that neither Veena nor her company, Exalogic Solutions, had provided any services to CMRL.