ED raids Pinarayi Vijayan’s residence in widening CMRL investigation

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday conducted searches at the residence of former Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and several properties linked to his family and associates as part of a money laundering investigation connected to the Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) case involving his daughter Veena Vijayan.

The searches, carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), covered 10 locations across Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Kannur and Bengaluru. Officials said the operation began around 7 am and was conducted with security support from Central Armed Police Forces personnel.

Among the premises searched were Vijayan’s rented residence at Bakery Junction in Thiruvananthapuram, a family property in Kannur, the Kozhikode residence of his son-in-law and former minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas, and locations linked to key officials of CMRL.

Officials said the former chief minister was present at his residence when the search team arrived. Investigators reportedly recovered documents relating to investments and fixed deposits during the operation.

Protest outside residence turns violent

Tension flared outside Vijayan’s residence as ED officials concluded their search.

A group of suspected CPI(M) workers gathered outside the property to protest the agency’s action. According to officials, some protesters allegedly blocked vehicles carrying ED personnel and hurled stones at them as they attempted to leave.

Police and central security personnel intervened to disperse the crowd and escort officials from the area. One vehicle's windshield was damaged during the incident.

The ED said it would file a police complaint regarding what it described as an attack on its personnel. Officials noted that women officers were also present in the convoy targeted during the protest.

Vijayan alleges political targeting

Speaking to reporters after the search operation ended, Vijayan accused the Centre of using investigative agencies to target opposition leaders.

“This is only a beginning. Nobody should harbour the illusion that such actions can intimidate or weaken us,” he said.

The veteran CPI(M) leader recently moved into the role of Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly after the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) defeated the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in the state elections last month, ending Vijayan’s decade-long tenure as chief minister from 2016 to 2026.

Case linked to daughter’s firm

The ED investigation centres on allegations that CMRL paid Rs 2.78 crore to Veena Vijayan’s company, Exalogic Solutions Private Limited, purportedly for information technology consultancy services.

The agency is also examining financial transactions involving another company, Empower India Capital Investment Private Limited (EICPL), which is operated by CMRL Managing Director Sasidharan Kartha.

According to the ED, EICPL extended loans worth Rs 50 lakh to Exalogic despite alleged repayment defaults. Investigators claim these transactions generated “proceeds of crime” involving CMRL management and Veena Vijayan.

Probe follows High Court ruling

The agency intensified its action a day after the Kerala High Court dismissed a petition filed by CMRL seeking to quash the money laundering proceedings.

The court upheld the validity of the ED investigation, ruling that a prosecution complaint filed by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) constituted a valid predicate offence under the PMLA.

The ED case is based on an SFIO prosecution complaint filed before a court in Ernakulam in April 2025.

CMRL first came under scrutiny after Income Tax Department raids in January 2019 allegedly uncovered fake expenditure claims worth around Rs 130 crore. Investigators later expanded the inquiry, with the SFIO alleging that fictitious cash expenses amounting to Rs 182 crore were recorded over a 15-year period and that Rs 91 crore was paid for transport services to companies linked to the Kartha family.

The investigation remains ongoing.