Kerala CM Satheesan calls attack on ED officials a serious offence

Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan has strongly condemned the attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials following search operations at properties linked to CPI(M) veteran Pinarayi Vijayan, calling the incident a serious criminal offence and urging political parties to refrain from encouraging violence.

Satheesan said that the assault on investigators, including women officials, and damage to official vehicles amounted to a grave law-and-order violation. He warned that those involved in such acts should be treated as criminals and stressed that such incidents must not be repeated.

He also praised the state police and Home Department for swiftly deploying forces to manage the situation as crowds gathered during the ED searches, stating that timely intervention helped prevent further escalation.

Defending the ED’s action, Satheesan said the searches were part of an ongoing investigation linked to a central agency case and could not be interfered with by the state government. He added that the probe was legally sanctioned and followed due process.

Responding to political allegations, he dismissed claims that the ED raids were politically motivated, calling such remarks “baseless” and accusing rivals of spreading misinformation. He also criticised attempts to link the investigation to political leaders without evidence.

The Chief Minister further stated that the Congress-led UDF had earlier raised concerns regarding financial dealings involving companies under investigation, and emphasized that the matter was already under judicial and agency scrutiny.

The ED had conducted searches at multiple locations in Kerala, including residences linked to the Chief Minister, as part of a money laundering investigation connected to mining-related financial transactions.