Thiruvananthapuram: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday carried out searches at the residence of former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and several other locations in connection with the Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) money laundering case.
The searches are linked to alleged financial transactions involving Exalogic Solutions, a company owned by Vijayan’s daughter, Veena Vijayan. ED conducted raids at around 10 locations across Kerala under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
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The alleged payment scam arose following an income tax(IT) raid on CMLR premises when Vijayan was the Chief Minister in 2023. The agency is investigating claims that CMRL paid about Rs 1.72 crore to Exalogic Solutions between 2017-18 and 2018-19 despite no services being provided by the firm.
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The ED action came a day after the Kerala High Court refused to quash the agency’s investigation into the case. The court dismissed petitions filed by CMRL and some company officials challenging the ED probe.
The money laundering case was registered by the ED in 2024 based on findings by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) and other agencies examining alleged irregular payments linked to Exalogic Solutions. SFIO’s finding that Vijyan’s daughter received Rs. 270 crore from a controversial mining firm.
Political Reactions
The CPI(M) has earlier described the investigation as politically motivated, while opposition parties in Kerala have demanded accountability over the alleged transactions. While, neither Pinarayi Vijayan nor Veena Vijayan has been charged in court in connection with the case.
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One comment came from CPI(M) party general secretary MA Baby, “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 Vijayan or the CPI(M). Is the UDF government in Kerala complicit in this raid?.”
The ED has not yet issued an official statement on what was recovered during the searches. Investigators are expected to examine financial records and digital evidence collected during the raids.
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