ED searches linked to Pinarayi Vijayan meant to shield him from CPI(M) criticism: Kerala Minister

Kerala Minister K Muraleedharan on Thursday alleged that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) searches linked to former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan were aimed at shielding him from mounting criticism within the CPI(M).

Muraleedharan said the Congress neither supported the ED nor endorsed the searches carried out by the central agency. However, he questioned the timing of the action, claiming that such investigations should have taken place when Vijayan was serving as chief minister.

“We suspect that the ED searches were a rescue attempt as they came at a time when Vijayan was facing severe criticism from within the party,” the minister alleged.

At the same time, Muraleedharan condemned the reported attack by CPI(M) workers on vehicles carrying ED officials who had conducted searches at Vijayan’s rented residence in Thiruvananthapuram.

“Taking the law into one’s hands and disrupting law and order will not be condoned by the government,” said Muraleedharan, who holds the Health and Devaswom portfolios.

The minister also stated that the Congress did not need to strike any political deal to weaken Vijayan, claiming that the former chief minister had already suffered a major political setback.

The ED on Thursday conducted searches at 10 locations across Kerala, including Vijayan’s rented residence at Bakery Junction in Thiruvananthapuram and his permanent residence in Kannur. The searches are part of the agency’s investigation into the Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) money laundering case involving Vijayan’s daughter, Veena T.

The ED probe originated from a complaint filed by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO). The complaint followed observations by the interim settlement board of the Income Tax Department regarding transactions between CMRL and Veena’s now-defunct company, Exalogic Solutions.

According to the ED’s case registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in 2024, CMRL allegedly paid Rs 1.72 crore to Exalogic Solutions between 2017 and 2020 without receiving any services in return.