ED raids former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayans house in money-laundering case
The agency conducted raids at 12 locations across Kerala under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), including a rented residence used by Vijayan in Thiruvananthapuram.
PTC News Desk: The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday carried out searches at properties linked to former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in connection with a money-laundering investigation.
The agency conducted raids at 12 locations across Kerala under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), including a rented residence used by Vijayan in Thiruvananthapuram.
The case centres around allegations that Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) paid Rs 1.72 crore to Exalogic Solutions, a company owned by Vijayan’s daughter T Veena, between 2018 and 2019 without receiving any services in return. Investigators suspect the payments were illegal.
The searches came a day after the Kerala High Court dismissed a plea filed by CMRL seeking to quash the ED proceedings. The agency had registered the PMLA case in 2024, and the controversy has since remained one of the most politically damaging issues faced by the Vijayan administration.
Apart from the ED inquiry, the matter is also under investigation by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office.
Meanwhile, the political fallout widened on Tuesday when five police officers attached to Vijayan, including members of his security team, were suspended. The Kerala government is also considering disciplinary action against senior police officer M. R. Ajith Kumar over allegations that he attempted to interfere with the probe.
The action followed findings by a Special Investigation Team set up after V. D. Satheesan assumed office as Chief Minister. According to reports, the SIT concluded that police personnel had illegally used force and weapons against Youth Congress and KSU activists protesting during Vijayan’s Nava Kerala Yatra in Alappuzha in December 2023.
After stepping down as Chief Minister, Vijayan quickly took on the role of Leader of the Opposition. He questioned the new UDF government over its promises, asking what measures it would take against the Centre and to reduce taxes. He also criticised the recent fuel price hike, calling it “daylight robbery” despite falling Brent crude oil prices.