The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday conducted searches at multiple locations across Kerala, including the rented residence of former Kerala Chief Minister and current Leader of Opposition Pinarayi
Vijayan, in connection with the politically sensitive Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) case linked to financial dealings involving his daughter Veena Thaikkandiyil’s firm Exalogic Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
The central agency also conducted checks at Vijayan’s rented residence in Thiruvananthapuram, where he had shifted recently.
Veena Thaikkandiyil is also understood to be residing there.
The searches were linked to the investigation surrounding Exalogic Solutions, the IT firm owned by Veena.
The raids come just a day after the Kerala High Court refused to quash the ED’s investigation into CMRL, dealing a major setback to the company and its officials.
Justice TR Ravi dismissed a batch of petitions filed by CMRL and four of its senior officials challenging the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) registered by the ED.
Though the case does not directly name Vijayan, it became one of the most politically explosive controversies during his tenure as Chief Minister after allegations surfaced regarding payments allegedly made by CMRL to Exalogic Solutions without corresponding services being provided.
The allegations triggered a major political confrontation in Kerala, with Opposition parties repeatedly accusing Vijayan’s family of benefiting from questionable financial transactions.
The issue remained a key flashpoint in state politics and was frequently raised by rivals against the then Left government.
CMRL and its officials had argued before the High Court that the ED lacked jurisdiction to investigate the matter as no scheduled offence under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) had been established.
Among those who approached the court were CMRL Managing Director SN Sasidharan Kartha, Chief Financial Officer KS Suresh Kumar, Senior Manager NC Chandrashekharan and Senior Officer Anju Rachael Kuruvila.
EARLIER ED PROBE HAD SPARKED CONTROVERSY
The ED investigation had itself generated controversy earlier after three company officials who appeared before the agency alleged illegal detention during questioning.
Following the allegations, the Kerala High Court in June 2024 directed the ED to preserve CCTV visuals of the interrogation proceedings.
Apart from the ED investigation, the matter is also under probe by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO).
While earlier pleas seeking vigilance investigations into the allegations had been rejected by vigilance courts and the High Court, Tuesday’s order effectively cleared the path for the ED to continue its money laundering investigation into the controversial transactions.
POLITICAL HEAT INTENSIFIES IN KERALA
The ED action comes amid heightened political tensions in Kerala, with fresh controversy already surrounding cases linked to the previous Vijayan administration.
In another major development on Tuesday, five police personnel attached to Vijayan during the Nava Kerala Yatra assault case were suspended following findings by a Special Investigation Team (SIT).
The SIT reportedly found that the officers had unlawfully used force against Youth Congress and KSU workers during protests in Alappuzha in December 2023.
Visuals of the incident had sparked outrage at the time, showing security personnel physically attacking black flag protesters.
The investigation also reportedly pointed to serious lapses by senior police officer MR Ajith Kumar, with allegations that attempts were made to influence or derail the probe.
