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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday carried out raids at residences linked to former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan as part of its ongoing money laundering investigation in the controversial CMRL pay-off case. The searches were conducted at nearly 10 locations across Kerala under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), marking a major escalation in the politically sensitive probe.
ED Conducts Searches Across Kerala
According to officials, the ED teams searched Vijayan’s rented residence near Bakery Junction in Thiruvananthapuram along with multiple other premises linked to the case. Raids were also conducted at the residence of Vijayan’s son-in-law P. A. Mohammed Riyas in Kozhikode. Armed central security personnel were reportedly deployed outside the properties during the operation.
The agency is also investigating properties and offices associated with senior officials of Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL). Officials examined financial records, electronic devices, and transaction details during the searches.
What Is the CMRL Pay-Off Case?
The CMRL controversy revolves around allegations that Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited paid around ₹1.72 crore to Exalogic Solutions, an IT company owned by Vijayan’s daughter T Veena, between 2015 and 2020 for services that were allegedly never delivered.
The ED suspects the payments may have been illegal financial transactions disguised as service fees. Investigators believe the money may have been used to settle liabilities of Exalogic Solutions, effectively shifting financial burdens to the publicly listed company.
The case is also being examined by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), which had earlier raised concerns regarding the nature of the transactions involving Exalogic and CMRL.
Kerala High Court Order Intensified Probe
The ED action came shortly after the Kerala High Court refused to quash the agency’s investigation into the matter. CMRL had approached the court seeking cancellation of ED summons and termination of proceedings, but the plea was rejected earlier this week.
Following the court’s decision, the ED intensified its probe and launched simultaneous raids across multiple locations in Kerala. The money laundering case was originally registered by the agency in 2024 under the PMLA framework.
CPM Calls Raids Politically Motivated
The raids triggered strong reactions from leaders of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), commonly known as CPM. Party leaders accused the BJP-led central government of targeting opposition leaders through investigative agencies.
CPM General Secretary M. A. Baby described the ED action as a “targeted attack” and alleged political vendetta against Vijayan and the Left leadership in Kerala. Party workers staged protests outside Vijayan’s residence and party offices in several parts of the state.
Meanwhile, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor rejected CPM allegations that the Congress was involved in encouraging the ED investigation.
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Political Impact of the ED Raids
The ED raids have significantly intensified the political atmosphere in Kerala, where the CMRL controversy has already become a major issue between the ruling Left and opposition parties. The investigation is expected to remain at the center of political debate in the coming months as the ED continues to examine financial links connected to the alleged transactions.
So far, neither the ED nor representatives of Vijayan’s family have announced any fresh legal action following the raids. However, officials indicated that the investigation into the alleged money laundering network is still ongoing and further questioning or summons could follow.
