The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday carried out searches at the residences linked to former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan as part of its investigation into the controversial CMRL pay-off case involving alleged financial transactions between Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) and Exalogic Solutions, a company owned by his daughter Veena T.
According to officials, the ED conducted simultaneous raids at multiple locations across Kerala, including Vijayan’s rented residence in Thiruvananthapuram, his house in Kannur, and the residence of his daughter Veena and son-in-law P. A. Mohammed Riyas in Kozhikode. Searches were also carried out at the residences and offices of senior CMRL officials, including Managing Director Sasidharan Kartha and the company’s premises in Aluva.
The ED action comes a day after the Kerala High Court refused to quash the agency’s proceedings in the case, allowing the probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to continue.
At the centre of the controversy are allegations that CMRL paid approximately ₹1.72 crore to Exalogic Solutions between 2017 and 2020 for IT-related services that investigators claim were never actually delivered. The ED’s money laundering case is based on findings linked to investigations by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), which had earlier examined the financial dealings between the two entities.
Officials said ED teams are examining financial records, digital devices, transaction details, and company documents during the searches. Reports also suggested that statements of key individuals connected to the case are being recorded as part of the ongoing investigation.
The CPI(M) leadership has consistently denied wrongdoing in the case and previously described the allegations as politically motivated. Pinarayi Vijayan had earlier termed the controversy a “political witch-hunt” and defended the financial transactions involving his daughter’s company.
The case has remained one of the most politically sensitive controversies in Kerala over the past few years, with opposition parties repeatedly demanding a deeper probe into the alleged payments and the role of individuals connected to the former Chief Minister’s family.
The ED filed its PMLA case in 2024 after reviewing materials linked to the SFIO investigation. The latest raids are being viewed as a significant escalation in the probe, especially because searches directly targeted residences associated with the former Chief Minister and close family members.
Political reactions intensified immediately after the searches began, with opposition leaders claiming the developments vindicated their long-standing allegations regarding the CMRL payments. CPI(M) leaders, however, accused central agencies of targeting opposition figures for political reasons.
The ED has not yet issued a detailed official statement regarding the outcome of the searches. The investigation is expected to continue in the coming weeks as officials analyse seized materials and financial evidence linked to the case.
