Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited
Corporate brand
UnclaimedCochin Minerals and Rutile Limited is an Indian publicly listed chemicals and mineral-processing company specializing in synthetic rutile and chloride products.
Last updated August 31, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) is a publicly listed Indian chemicals and mineral-processing company based in Kochi, Kerala. Established in 1989 by Dr. S. N. Sasidharan Kartha with support from the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation, the company was created to process titanium-bearing mineral feedstocks and manufacture synthetic rutile and related chemical products. It is described in reference material as the only listed Indian company focused on synthetic rutile. CMRL operates its manufacturing plant at the Edayar Industrial Development Area in Aluva, Kerala. The site is approximately 15 kilometres from Cochin Port and around 100 kilometres from ilmenite deposits, giving the company logistical access to both imported or domestic mineral feedstock and maritime transport. Its core process involves beneficiation of ilmenite to produce synthetic rutile, a titanium-rich material used as a feedstock in the production of titanium dioxide and other titanium-related applications. The company began production with stated capacities of 10,000 tonnes per annum of synthetic rutile and 12,500 tonnes per annum of ferric chloride. Reference material reports subsequent capacity expansion to 45,000 tonnes per annum for synthetic rutile, 24,000 tonnes per annum for ferric chloride, 72,000 tonnes per annum for ferrous chloride, and 18,000 tonnes per annum for Cemox. Its reported product range includes beneficiated ilmenite, also described as synthetic rutile, ferric chloride, and ferrous chloride. These products place CMRL within the intersection of mineral beneficiation, industrial chemicals, and materials supplied to downstream manufacturing and water-treatment-related applications. CMRL has also been associated with public controversy and regulatory scrutiny. Protests in 2018–19 in Kerala’s Kollam district, including the Save Alappad campaign, raised allegations concerning mining activity connected with the company. An Income Tax Department raid in 2019 was reported to have uncovered allegations involving inflated expenses and payments to political figures. In June 2023, the Income Tax Interim Settlement Board in Delhi reportedly ruled on allegations that payments had been made through contracts involving Exalogics, a company associated with Veena Vijayan, daughter of Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan. In February 2024, the Serious Fraud Investigation Office was reported to have opened a probe concerning the alleged transaction. These matters are allegations and regulatory proceedings rather than established findings of criminal liability. The available reference material provides limited information about CMRL’s consumer-facing identity, leadership after its founding, international sales, branding campaigns, or recent financial performance. The company is best understood as an industrial business whose market presence is based on specialized mineral and chemical production rather than mass-market branding.
History
Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited was established in 1989 in Kerala, India, by Dr. S. N. Sasidharan Kartha with assistance from the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation. Its formation reflected an industrial strategy centered on processing titanium-bearing minerals and developing domestic capacity for synthetic rutile production. The company selected a manufacturing location in the Edayar Industrial Development Area at Aluva, near Kochi. The plant’s location provided proximity to Cochin Port, approximately 15 kilometres away, while remaining relatively close to ilmenite deposits in Kerala and nearby regions. This combination supported the movement of mineral feedstock and finished industrial chemicals. CMRL began production with reported annual capacities of 10,000 tonnes of synthetic rutile and 12,500 tonnes of ferric chloride. Over time, the company expanded its production capabilities. Reported capacity reached 45,000 tonnes per year for synthetic rutile, 24,000 tonnes for ferric chloride, 72,000 tonnes for ferrous chloride, and 18,000 tonnes for Cemox. Its principal product identity remained tied to beneficiated ilmenite, also referred to as synthetic rutile, while chloride products formed an important secondary part of the portfolio. The company has been described as the only listed Indian entity operating in the synthetic-rutile segment and is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange under code 513353. CMRL’s operations have attracted environmental and political scrutiny. During 2018–19, the Save Alappad protests in Kollam district challenged alleged mining practices associated with the company. Protesters and campaigners raised concerns about the effects of mineral-sand extraction on coastal communities and the local environment. The allegations formed part of a wider public debate in Kerala over mineral-sand mining, land loss, environmental degradation, and the governance of natural resources. In 2019, an Income Tax Department raid was reported to have uncovered allegations that the company inflated expenses and made payments to politicians in Kerala. In June 2023, the Income Tax Interim Settlement Board in Delhi reportedly ruled on allegations that CMRL had made illegal payments through purportedly bogus contracts involving Exalogics, a company associated with Veena Vijayan. In February 2024, the Serious Fraud Investigation Office was reported to have begun a probe concerning the alleged transaction. The available material does not provide a final adjudication of all related allegations, and these events should therefore be presented as reported investigations and accusations rather than conclusive findings. Publicly available reference material contains little detail on CMRL’s later management, sales breakdown, export markets, financial results, consumer branding, or product-level commercial strategy. Its documented development is primarily that of a specialized Indian industrial producer serving mineral-processing and chemical markets.
- 2024
Serious Fraud Investigation Office probe
[1]The Serious Fraud Investigation Office was reported to have investigated an alleged transaction involving CMRL and Veena Vijayan.
- 2023
Income Tax settlement ruling
[1]The Income Tax Interim Settlement Board in Delhi reportedly addressed allegations involving payments and contracts associated with Exalogics.
- 2019
Income Tax Department raid
[1]The company became subject to reported Income Tax Department scrutiny involving alleged expense inflation and political payments.
- 2018
Save Alappad protests
[1]Public protests in Kollam district raised allegations concerning mining activity associated with CMRL and its environmental and community effects.
- 1989
Company founded
[1]Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited was established by Dr. S. N. Sasidharan Kartha with assistance from the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation.
Aluva manufacturing plant established
[1]The company’s plant was located at the Edayar Industrial Development Area in Aluva, near Kochi and Cochin Port.
Production capacity expanded
[1]Reported capacity increased to 45,000 tonnes per year for synthetic rutile, 24,000 tonnes for ferric chloride, 72,000 tonnes for ferrous chloride, and 18,000 tonnes for Cemox.
Products and positioning
An Indian industrial materials and chemicals producer focused on synthetic rutile and chloride products, with a manufacturing base positioned near Kerala’s port infrastructure and mineral-sourcing regions.
Titanium mineral product
Synthetic rutile
Synthetic rutile is produced by upgrading or beneficiating ilmenite to create a higher-titanium feedstock. CMRL’s synthetic-rutile operation is the center of its industrial identity and was reported to have expanded from an initial capacity of 10,000 tonnes per year to 45,000 tonnes per year.
Mineral beneficiation product
Beneficiated ilmenite
Beneficiated ilmenite is the mineral feedstock product described in the company’s product range and is also identified in the reference material with synthetic rutile. It is produced through mineral processing intended to improve the usefulness and titanium content of ilmenite for downstream industrial applications.
Industrial chemical
Ferric chloride
Ferric chloride is an industrial chemical manufactured by CMRL alongside its mineral-processing operations. The company began with a reported capacity of 12,500 tonnes per year and later expanded reported capacity to 24,000 tonnes per year.
Industrial chemical
Ferrous chloride
Ferrous chloride is part of CMRL’s chloride-chemical portfolio. Reference material reports a later production capacity of 72,000 tonnes per year, although detailed product specifications, customers, and applications are not provided.
Industrial material
Cemox
Cemox is listed among the company’s expanded production lines. The available reference reports capacity of 18,000 tonnes per year but does not provide enough detail to characterize its formulation, end uses, or commercial positioning.
Controversies
2024
Serious Fraud Investigation Office investigation
The Serious Fraud Investigation Office was reported to have opened a probe into an alleged transaction involving CMRL and Veena Vijayan. No final finding is provided in the available source.
2023
Alleged payments through Exalogics contracts
The Income Tax Interim Settlement Board in Delhi reportedly ruled on allegations that CMRL made illegal payments through purportedly bogus contracts involving Exalogics, a company associated with Veena Vijayan.
2019
Income Tax raid and alleged improper payments
A reported Income Tax Department raid involved allegations that CMRL inflated expenses and paid bribes to politicians in Kerala. The available reference does not provide a final legal disposition.
Marketing campaigns
- 2018Save Alappad
India · Kerala
The Save Alappad campaign was a community and environmental protest movement in Kollam district concerning alleged illegal or damaging mineral-sand mining associated with CMRL and broader extraction practices in the region.
Outcome. The protests brought national attention to coastal erosion, environmental impacts, and local opposition to mineral-sand mining. The available source does not establish a definitive regulatory or operational outcome.
Brand decisions
- Expansion from synthetic rutile into chloride chemicalsStrategy
Background
CMRL was founded around synthetic-rutile production but also began producing ferric chloride and later added ferrous chloride and Cemox.
Action taken
The company expanded its manufacturing portfolio and reported capacity across mineral beneficiation and industrial chemicals.
Aftermath
The expansion positioned CMRL as a broader industrial chemicals producer rather than a single-product synthetic-rutile company.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/cochin-minerals-and-rutile-limited · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled