The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday conducted raids at the residence of former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in connection with the CMRL (Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation) money laundering case, which is linked to his daughter. The searches were carried out as part of an ongoing probe into the alleged financial irregularities at the state-run corporation, according to officials cited by news agency PTI.
Details of the Raid
The ED team, accompanied by central security forces, reached Vijayan's residence in Thiruvananthapuram early in the morning. The operation lasted several hours, with officials seizing documents and digital evidence related to the case. The agency is investigating allegations of illegal transfer of funds and assets involving key figures in the CMRL, which is responsible for the distribution of essential commodities in Kerala.
Link to Vijayan's Daughter
The case has drawn political attention as it involves Vijayan's daughter, who is reportedly a director in a private firm that had transactions with CMRL. The ED is examining whether these transactions were part of a larger money laundering scheme. Vijayan, who served as Chief Minister from 2016 to 2021, has denied any wrongdoing and termed the raids as politically motivated.
Political Reactions
The raids have sparked a war of words between the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the opposition. The LDF accused the central government of using investigative agencies to target political rivals, while the opposition demanded a thorough investigation into the allegations. The ED's action comes ahead of the upcoming local body elections in Kerala, adding to the political heat.
The CMRL case involves alleged irregularities in the procurement and distribution of rice and other essential items, leading to losses of several crores. The ED had earlier registered a money laundering case based on a state police complaint. Further investigations are underway.
