India
Enforcement Directorate Pushes for Corruption Case Against Former Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan and Family
By Shaju Philip
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has formally requested Kerala police to file an FIR against former chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter T Veena, son-in-law Mohammed Riyas, and others under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The request stems from a money laundering investigation tied to Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) and its alleged financial dealings with Veena's IT company.
According to sources within the agency, the ED has submitted a detailed report to Kerala's Director General of Police concerning the CMRL case, urging that a separate FIR be registered. Vijayan currently serves as Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala assembly, while Riyas, a former minister, remains a sitting CPI(M) legislator.
The decision on whether to register the FIR now rests with the state police, which operates under the Home Department led by Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala. The Congress-led administration took office in April this year after defeating Vijayan's CPI(M) government.
Central to the ED's allegations is a claim that CMRL, based in Kochi, made payments to Veena's firm, Exalogic Solutions, without any corresponding services being rendered. These transactions reportedly occurred during Vijayan's first term as chief minister and were initially flagged by the Income Tax Department. The ED had previously stated that Exalogic Solutions received Rs 2.78 crore from CMRL under the pretense of IT consultancy fees.
In May, the ED conducted searches at Vijayan's residence and at eight other locations connected to CPI(M) leaders in Kozhikode district, Riyas's home constituency. Officials said these raids uncovered evidence pointing to money transfers via hawala channels.
The ED's report to police alleges that Vijayan received Rs 3.28 crore in bribes from CMRL, routed through his daughter Veena. This claim is supported by a statement from CMRL's former chief financial officer, according to the agency. Investigators further allege that Riyas assisted in moving the bribe funds to Dubai with help from Veena and other individuals.
The ED has also called for an FIR to be filed against senior staff members of Exalogic Solutions. The agency stated that it had seized statements and digital records indicating money transfers through hawala networks, and alleged that Veena possessed funds exceeding her declared income. Her handwritten financial records reportedly showed amounts beyond what she received from CMRL, including 3.49 lakh UAE Dirhams—roughly Rs 85 lakh—transferred to Dubai, along with approximately Rs 20.05 crore maintained in Indian currency.
Responding to the allegations last month, Vijayan defended his family, stating, "My hands are clean, and I have full confidence that neither my daughter nor any of my family members have engaged in any hawala dealings." He also pushed back against the hawala claims specifically concerning Veena, saying she had faced disproportionate scrutiny simply because of her relationship to him. "She does not have huge wealth. She had cooperated with the probe and will continue to do so," said Vijayan, who is also a member of the CPI(M) politburo.