Kerala Director General of Police Ravada Azad Chandrasekhar announced on Wednesday that a case has been registered against eight individuals involved in an attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials outside the residence of former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
Speaking to reporters about the incident, Chandrasekhar said, “After yesterday’s incident, we have taken a case and registered 8 people. We have identified others involved, too and will take action against them.”
The attack occurred as ED officials concluded searches at ten premises across the state, including Vijayan’s residence, in connection with the Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) money laundering case. Members of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) damaged vehicles belonging to ED officials during protests outside Vijayan’s home, surrounding a moving car and throwing bricks.
The confrontation arose when ED personnel arrived for the probe, resulting in clashes with CPI(M) workers. DGP Chandrasekhar defended the police response, stating, “We made arrangements based on the information we received about the ongoing raid – deployed manpower.”
Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala stated on Wednesday that neither the state government nor the Home Ministry were informed about the ED raid at Vijayan’s residence. He said, “The Kerala government or the Home Ministry has no information about this raid. They did not seek our support either, so we do not know the details of the operation. This question needs to be posed to the ED.” Chennithala also alleged a previous understanding existed between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Kerala, affirming his party’s consistent opposition to both.
The CPI(M) criticised the ED’s action, describing the raid on Vijayan’s residence as “yet another example” of central agencies being “weaponised” for political vendetta against opposition leaders.