ED raids former Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan residence in CMRL money laundering case
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday carried out searches at multiple locations in Kerala, including the residence of former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, as part of its investigation into the CMRL money laundering case.
Officials said raids were conducted at around 10 premises across the state, including Vijayan’s rented residence in Thiruvananthapuram and the home of his son-in-law, P A Mohamed Riyas, in Kozhikode. Security personnel were deployed outside the residence as searches continued.
According to officials, the case is linked to allegations involving Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) and payments made to an IT firm owned by Veena T, daughter of the former Chief Minister. The ED has alleged that funds worth ₹1.72 crore were received for IT services that were allegedly not delivered, and that the money may have been used to settle liabilities of the company.
The Enforcement Directorate registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in 2024 after examining financial transactions linked to the firm and related entities. Searches are also being conducted at the residences of senior CMRL officials as part of the wider probe.
The action came after the Kerala High Court declined to quash ED proceedings and upheld the continuation of the investigation, allowing the agency to proceed with summons and search operations.
The development triggered strong political reactions in the state. CPI(M) leaders described the raids as a “targeted attack” on the party’s top leadership and accused the Centre of political vendetta. Senior leaders also staged protests outside Vijayan’s residence in Thiruvananthapuram.
The party further alleged that similar financial transactions involving other political figures were being ignored and claimed that the action was aimed at politically weakening the opposition ahead of key electoral developments.
Meanwhile, the investigation remains underway, with ED officials continuing searches and examining financial records, digital evidence, and related documentation from multiple locations.
