Communist Party of India (Marxist) State Secretary MV Govindan claimed on Thursday that the Enforcement Directorate raids at former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's residence, related to the Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) money laundering investigation, were conducted without registering a First Information Report (FIR).
Speaking at a press conference, Govindan stated, “We have no fear in criticising the BJP. It is the RSS leadership that controls the constitutional institutions in India. Amit Shah has said that Keralam is now their next target. The planned attack against the Left is part of that. The BJP’s aim is to destroy Pinarayi Vijayan, who is the centre of the Left movement. The raid at Pinarayi’s house was carried out without registering an FIR. The court had only directed that an investigation be conducted to determine whether an FIR should be filed. It was in the middle of that process that the ED came to Pinarayi’s house with the raid.”
The statement followed Enforcement Directorate officials conducting searches at various properties linked to Pinarayi Vijayan and his family throughout Kerala in connection with the alleged CMRL money laundering case.
Earlier on Thursday, CPI(M) leaders and supporters held a protest in Chennai against the ED raids. CPI(M) Central Chennai District Secretary G Selva alleged an agenda against Communist parties, accusing the RSS and BJP of using autonomous agencies such as the ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against opposition figures.
Referring to an official ED press release, Selva said, “Actually, we strongly condemn the ED raid against our comrade Pinarayi Vijayan because the ED raid was used to implement the BJP-RSS agenda. We strongly condemn it. They conducted raids in 12 places, and in all 12 places, they didn’t get even a single paper. Even the official press release on behalf of the ED said ‘nil’–they didn’t get any information from Pinarayi Vijayan’s office or home. This clearly shows it is a political vendetta against Communist parties, particularly CPI(M).”
The ED raids, initiated early on Wednesday morning, covered multiple locations in Thiruvananthapuram, Kannur, Ernakulam and Bengaluru. Officials have said the searches relate to an ongoing investigation into alleged fraudulent financial transactions and “fake expenses” identified during previous probes by various central agencies.
One key allegation under investigation concerns payments made to Exalogic Solutions Private Limited, a company owned by Vijayan’s daughter Veena, which allegedly received 2.78 crore rupees from CMRL as consultancy fees. Investigators also reported that Empower India Capital Investment Private Limited extended loans of 50 lakh rupees to Exalogic despite defaults in repayments.
Officials further noted the inquiry is looking into broader accusations of fictitious expenses amounting to 182 crore rupees and possible diversion of funds through entities connected with CMRL management. Intelligence inputs indicated that Veena was present at her father’s Thiruvananthapuram residence when the ED team conducted the search operation.