ED Raids Premises Linked to Pinarayi Vijayan in CMRL Pay-Off Case; CPI(M) Calls It ‘Targeted Attack’

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday conducted coordinated raids at multiple premises linked to former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his family in connection with the alleged CMRL pay-off case involving his daughter, T. Veena, and her now-defunct IT firm, Exalogic.

The searches were carried out at 12 locations across Kerala, including Vijayan’s residences in Kannur and Thiruvananthapuram, the Kozhikode residence of former Tourism and Public Works Minister Muhammad Riyaz, and properties linked to promoters of Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL).

The raids came a day after the Kerala High Court declined to quash the ED’s investigation into CMRL and the alleged financial transactions involving Exalogic, the now-defunct company associated with T. Veena.

The ED’s action marks a significant escalation in its long-running probe into allegations that Exalogic received substantial monthly payments from CMRL between 2017 and 2021 without providing any services in return. Investigators are examining whether the transactions amounted to illegal financial benefits or pay-offs.

ED officials, accompanied by armed CISF personnel, arrived at the locations early Wednesday morning and reportedly cordoned off the premises during the searches.

Vijayan and members of his family were present at their rented residence near Bakery Junction in Thiruvananthapuram when the raid was underway.

Reacting to the development, CPI(M) General Secretary M. A. Baby condemned the ED action, describing it as a “targeted attack” by the BJP-led central government on a senior opposition leader.

“The CPI(M) denounces the ED raid on Comrade Pinarayi Vijayan’s residence. This is a targeted attack on a top opposition leader by the BJP government. Such actions will not intimidate Pinarayi Vijayan or the CPI(M). Is the UDF government complicit in this raid?” Baby said in a Facebook post.

CPI(M) MP John Brittas also criticised the raids, calling them part of a systematic misuse of central agencies to target political opponents.

Alleging that the action reflected an “authoritarian mindset”, Brittas said neither Vijayan nor the CPI(M) would be intimidated by such “undemocratic tactics”, and asserted that the party would resist them with public support.

He further accused the Congress leadership of encouraging the ED action, drawing parallels with the agency’s cases against Arvind Kejriwal.

Meanwhile, the CPI(M) convened an emergency state secretariat meeting, while party workers staged protests at several locations across Kerala.

Responding to allegations that the Congress was behind the ED action, Kerala minister P. C. Vishnunadh said the party should not be linked to the central agency’s investigation, adding that he learnt about the raids only through media reports.