Bineesh Kodiyeri, who was arrested by Enforcement Directorate in connection with his role in drug trafficking and financing narcotics dealer Anoop Mohammed, is a tip of the ice berg and further investigation into his activities is likely to reach many popular film stars and celebrities in South India, according to an official privy to the probe.
Bineesh, son of CPI(M) strongman Kodiyeri Balakrishnan who was being projected as the chief minister of Kerala once the tenure of incumbent Pinarayi Vijayan is over, had been a problematic son to his parents since his student days. He has active interests in films, sports (especially cricket) and resort business. Reports from ED sources say that Bineesh is proving to be a tough nut and he is not cooperating with the officials. Bineesh’s custody with the ED comes to an end on Monday. The health of Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, suffering from many ailments, has been aggravated because of issues created by his two sons, according to party insiders. His elder son Binoy was in the news for his liaison with a Bihari girl with whom he has a five-year old son. Though Binoy feigned ignorance about the relation, the girl, who was working as a club dancer in Dubai approached a Mumbai court which ordered DNA testing of the child.
The test results proved that Binoy was the father of the child and this made his wife walked out of the marriage.
Names of movie makers and artistes who were in the forefront of anti-CAA agitation in the State are being heard for their association with Bineesh, complicity in drug trafficking and may figure in the list of persons who may be picked up for interrogation. There were instances of psychotropic substances being seized from parties hosted by some popular film stars in Kochi though the cases were hushed up following interventions from ‘high places’, according to officials in Kerala Police.