With the arrival of Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax officials to Thiruvananthapuram by Tuesday evening, grapevine is that the house of Bineesh Kodiyeri, who has been arrested in connection with financing narcotics, may be searched.
Bineesh, son of CPI(M) Kerala secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, has been arrested by ED and sent to the custody of the probe agency. The ED has told the Bangalore Civil Judge that Bineesh was not cooperating with the probe and feigning poor health. The digital records seized by the ED from Anoop Mohammed, one of the close aides of Bineesh, has brought the ED to Thiruvananthapuram.
If the ED raids or inspects the residence and business establishments of Bineesh, it would be an embarrassment to his father Balakrishnan. The CPI(M) strongman recently shifted to one of the penthouse apartments built by the party for senior leaders at Thiruvananthapuram.
But CPI(M) leadership has already initiated discussions to opt for an alternative arrangement if the ED raids the residence of Bineesh in Thiruvananthapuram. Balakrishnan, ailing for some time now, may be given leave for the time being and M V Govindan, one of his trusted lieutenants may be given charges of the party secretary, according to insiders in the CPI(M).
Meanwhile the CPI(M) has launched a synchronised campaign all over the State to expose the “evil designs” of the BJP to discredit and tarnish the “good works” done by the Pinarayi Vijayan government during the last four years.