ED raids Pinarayi Vijayan’s residences in CMRL-Exalogic financial dealings case; CPM workers attack officials

KOCHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday conducted raids at the residences of former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in connection with the financial dealings between Kochi-based CMRL and Exalogic Solutions. Following the raids, CPM leaders, including the party’s state secretary, came out in protest on the streets.

The raid at the residence near Bakery Junction in Thiruvananthapuram, where Pinarayi Vijayan and his daughter Veena Vijayan stay, shocked the CPM leadership. ED officials arrived seeking evidence related to financial transactions involving Exalogic Solutions, a company owned by Veena Vijayan.

As senior CPM leaders themselves staged protests outside the house, party workers gathered in large numbers. The anger of the protesters later turned into attacks against ED officials. CPM workers attacked the vehicle of the officials after they completed the raid and were leaving the residence.

One ED officer and the driver of the vehicle were injured in the incident. The vehicle was also damaged. The raids were carried out under the protection of central security forces. Police were later called in to control the protesters. State police and the Home Department reportedly had no prior information about the raids.

After ED officials filed a complaint at the police station, a case of attempted murder was registered. Five accused, including four people who had allegedly hidden inside the CPM Palayam Area Committee office, were arrested. CPM leaders and workers initially tried to prevent police from entering the party office. However, after the police took a firm stand, the accused were brought out and handed over to the police.

The ED carried out the raids at high speed after receiving permission from a single bench of the High Court to continue the investigation.

Raids at 10 locations Simultaneous raids were conducted at 10 locations, including Pinarayi Vijayan’s house in Kannur, his rented house in Thiruvananthapuram, the Kozhikode residence of former minister and son-in-law P. A. Mohammed Riyas, the Aluva residence of CMRL Managing Director Sasidharan Kartha and his son Saran S Kartha, CMRL’s office in Aluva, the Kalamassery house of another relative Anil, the Aluva flat of former company finance manager Sureshkumar and locations in Bengaluru linked to the now-closed Exalogic Solutions company.

ED likely to intensify action against Veena Vijayan The investigation against Veena Vijayan relates to allegations that she received Rs 1.78 crore as payment and loans through alleged fake consultancy services under the cover of an IT consultancy service.

• The ED is expected to intensify proceedings by registering additional offences in its ECIR, similar to an FIR in financial crime cases.
• The case is also linked to an Income Tax Department inspection conducted in January 2019, which reportedly found irregular expenses worth Rs 130 crore at CMRL. Transactions involving Veena Vijayan were also part of that probe.

During the search in Thiruvananthapuram, ED officials collected documents related to Veena’s bank fixed deposits and other banking transactions. Her detailed statement was recorded over nearly two-and-a-half hours. The ED said further action, including additional questioning of Veena Vijayan, may follow after analysing the seized documents.